floppy disk

or flop·py·disk

[ flop-ee disk ]

noun

, Computers.

1. a portable storage medium consisting of a square plastic case containing a thin disk coated with magnetic material that is inserted into a drive to read and write data: popular from the 1970s through the 1990s.

floppy disk

noun

1. a flexible removable magnetic disk that stores information and can be used to store data for use in a microprocessor Also calleddisketteflexible disk

floppy disk

/ flŏp′pē /

1. A flexible plastic disk coated with magnetic material and covered by a protective jacket, used for storing data. Floppy disks were once the principal storage medium for personal computers, but inexpensive hard disks and writable compact disks have greatly diminished their role.

Word History and Origins

Origin of floppy disk¹

First recorded in 1970–75; called floppy from the fact that the earliest (8 inch) disk housing was somewhat flexible, though later (3.5 inch) disks had a rigid plastic case

Example Sentences

When your screenshot is looking exactly like you want, click the save button to the right, which looks like a floppy disk.

From Popular-Science

The series dates back to the late 1980s, when games were still being released on floppy disks and inserted into the Nintendo Famicom Disk System.

From Washington Post

Imagine a world where you couldn’t play Tetris unless you knew a guy who had a copy of it on floppy disk.

From Ozy

The source code was archived on a black 3.5-inch floppy disk now on display at the Boston Museum of Science.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• disk
• diskette
• floppy