floppy

Something is "floppy" when it is soft and does not stay firm or upright. Think of a puppy's ears that hang down, a cooked noodle, or a stuffed toy that has lost some of its filling. The word usually suggests that something bends or droops easily instead of holding its shape.

It can also be used for people or body parts that seem weak, loose, or without much energy, as in "floppy arms" or a child who feels floppy when picked up. In computing, a floppy disk got its name because the disk inside was flexible. The word usually gives a gentle picture of softness rather than damage.

"Floppy" describes something that is soft, limp, or easy to bend, so it does not keep a firm shape. A wet rag, a wide hat brim, a puppy's ears, or an old stuffed toy can all be floppy because they droop or fold instead of staying stiff. The word often brings to mind a loose, hanging, or sagging shape.

It is most often used for physical things, but it can also describe a person or a body part that feels weak or lacking in strength for the moment. Someone recovering from illness might feel floppy, or a tired child might go floppy in an adult's arms. In these cases, the idea is not usually that something is broken, but that it is soft, loose, or without much firmness.

The word is also strongly linked with the old computer term "floppy disk." That name came from the fact that the storage disk inside its cover was flexible rather than hard. Even though floppy disks are now outdated, the phrase is still a familiar example of the word in use.

So, whether you are talking about drooping ears, a soft toy, a weak-looking movement, or old computer storage, "floppy" points to something that bends, sags, or hangs loosely instead of staying firm.