flapper

noun

flap·​per ˈfla-pər How to pronounce flapper (audio)
1
a
: something used in flapping or striking
b
: one that flaps
c
: flipper sense 1
2
: a young woman predominantly of the 1910s and 1920s who showed freedom from conventions (as in style of dress and conduct)

Examples of flapper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gen gets to bust out her flapper dress only to witness the most horrific, awful, potentially career-destroying failure … the caviar, oysters, and bread are all crowded onto the bread plate. — Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 Customers can expect to find anything from vintage clothing and accessories from the flapper era to specialty light fixtures, unique salt-and-pepper shakers and mid-century furniture. — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 The hairstyle is what immediately sells the similarity between this look and the famous Jazz Age cartoon flapper. — Marci Robin, Allure, 24 June 2026 While stepping out for a photocall at the Four Seasons Hotel in Madrid, Spain, Zendaya embraced a flapper-era trend with her strapless black Christian Cowan gown, which is from the fashion house’s fall/winter 2026 collection. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for flapper

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of flapper was circa 1570

Rhymes for flapper

See All Rhymes for flapper

Browse Nearby Words

flappable
flapper
flapping meeting
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flapper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flapper. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flapper

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flapper

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