flat-footed
1 of 2adjective
flat-foot·ed ˈflat-ˌfu̇-təd 
ˌflat-ˈfu̇-
1
: affected with flatfoot
broadly : walking with a dragging or shambling gait
2
a
: firm and well balanced on the feet
b
: free from reservation : forthright
had an honest flat-footed way of saying a thing
3
: not ready : unprepared —used chiefly in the phrase catch one flat-footed
4
: proceeding in a plodding or unimaginative way : pedestrian
flat-footed prose
flat-footedly adverb
flat-footedness noun
flat-footed
2 of 2adverb
1
: in an open and determined manner : flatly
2
: with the feet flat on a surface (such as the ground)
Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
flat-footed
adjective
flat-foot·ed -ˈfu̇t-əd
: affected with flatfoot
broadly : walking with a dragging or shambling gait
flat-footed
adjective
as in unprepared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unprepared
- underprepared
- unready
- half-cocked
- half-baked
- untrained
- unqualified
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- prepared
- ready
- fit
- conditioned
- go
- armed
- ripe
- set
- primed
- braced
- fortified
- steeled