# floppy disk

CEFR B2 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/floppy-disk
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a small, square plastic object used in the past to store computer information. You cannot store much on them compared to modern USB drives.

For teachers: a flexible, magnetic storage medium encased in a square plastic shell, widely used from the 1970s to the late 1990s. Now largely obsolete, though the icon remains the universal symbol for saving data.

## Examples

- I found an old floppy disk in my desk drawer.
- Before high-speed internet and cloud storage, students had to carry a floppy disk to the computer lab to print their essays.
- While the physical floppy disk has vanished from modern hardware, its legacy persists in software interfaces where a 3.5-inch diskette icon still represents the 'save' command for millions of users.

## Usage notes

- Often shortened to 'floppy' in informal technical contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.