flash drive

This term refers specifically to the hardware device. While often used interchangeably with "USB drive" or "thumb drive," "flash drive" is the most technically descriptive term, highlighting the use of non-volatile flash memory. It is a neutral, standard term used across both professional and casual registers.

Because it is a compound noun consisting of a modifier and a head noun, it follows standard English pluralization rules. It is not a mass noun and is always treated as a discrete, countable object.