/ ˈflɪpənt; NAmE / (also informal flip ) adjective
showing that you do not take sth as seriously as other people think you should :
a flippant answer / attitude
Sorry, I didn't mean to sound flippant.
► flip·pancy / -ənsi; NAmE / noun [ U ]
► flip·pant·ly adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from flip + -ant , perhaps on the pattern of heraldic terms such as couchant and rampant . Early senses included nimble and talkative , hence playful , giving rise to the current use lacking seriousness .