flops

American  

[flops] / flɒps /

noun

Computers.

1. a measure of computer speed, equal to the number of floating-point operations the computer can perform per second (used especially in combination withmega-, giga-, tera- ).

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flops British  

acronym

1. floating-point operations per second: used as a measure of computer processing power (in combination with a prefix)

   megaflops

   gigaflops

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Etymology

Origin of flops

First recorded in 1985–90; shortening of fl(oating-point) op(erations per) s(econd)

Example Sentences

If it’s a mixture of high returns and big flops, he’s cherry-picking stocks without due care.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

But the products they have come up with so far have ranged from expensive flops to niche devices that only appeal to a subsegment of a particular industry, like videogames.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

It has had some truly standout successes - and some notable flops.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

In entertainment circles, the Oscar curse is a dreaded phenomenon, characterized by actors who have been nominated or won an Oscar, only for their post-prestige careers to be fraught with flops.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2026

She flops down in a soft easy chair with Penny on her lap and begins to read.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper