very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid, and ephemeral than ordinary language, as Hit the road.
(in English and some other languages) speech and writing characterized by the use of vulgar and socially taboo vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.
the jargon of a particular class, profession, etc.
the special vocabulary of thieves, vagabonds, etc.; argot.
verb (used without object)
to use slang or abusive language.
verb (used with object)
to assail with abusive language.
Origin of slang
1
First recorded in 1750–60; origin uncertain
SYNONYMS FOR slang
4 cant.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR slang ON THESAURUS.COM
usage note for slang
See informal.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH slang
cant, jargon, slang
Words nearby slang
slam dance, slam dunk, slammer, slamming, slander, slang, slang dictionary, slanging match, slanguage, slangy, slant
In the early days, there was a strong Jewish influence, and much of the underworld’s slang is borrowed from Yiddish.
The Mobster Who Brought Armenia and Azerbaijan Together … in Death|Fiona Zublin|October 9, 2020|Ozy
So he built his own list that includes thousands of proper names, then added to it more slang and contractions to expand it even further.
Former Apple engineer and autocorrect creator builds his first app, a word game called Up Spell|Sarah Perez|October 7, 2020|TechCrunch
Both fintech startups are unicorns—industry slang for private companies valued at $1 billion or more.
She was one of the world’s few female bank CEOs. Now she’s founding a fintech venture group|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 15, 2020|Fortune
We build our slang, our jokes, our medicine, even our obscenity around the belief that sex and social behavior go together.
Gender Is What You Make of It - Issue 88: Love & Sex|Charles King|August 5, 2020|Nautilus
Feel free to use slang with your friends and family, but probably avoid it when you’re communicating with coworkers.
Six tips for writing emails that aren’t absolute garbage|Harry Guinness|July 8, 2020|Popular Science
Not even Radio Bemba (Cuban slang for the rumor mill) had picked up the signal.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I do all this stuff in the community and the haji mart over there,” he said, using the slang for Iraqis used by U.S. soldiers.
Awkward: This Democratic Judicial Candidate's Husband Is a White Supremacist|Gideon Resnick|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To be bad is to be afraid of equality: Behind all the sloganeering and slang, that is the truth of the age.
From Smarm To Snark, We’re All Soldiers In The War On Obscurity|James Poulos|December 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The club drug Molly—slang for a form of ecstasy—is linked to four recent deaths.
Molly: The Dangerous Drug That’s Too Good to Quit|Abby Haglage|September 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Spending time around C.I.s makes it easier for a U.C. to pick up the slang of meth and its users.
The Devil’s Drug: The True Story of Meth in New Mexico|Nick Romeo|August 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It possesses its own nouns, verbs and other parts of speech, a sprinkling of slang, and practically no "swear" words.
The Kingdom of the Yellow Robe|Ernest Young
In the slang dialect of Spain, Murcian and Murcia, mean thief, and the land of thieves.
The Exemplary Novels of Cervantes|Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
"Oh, the Russians have got it in the—have sustained a severe defeat," said Bob, cutting short his Academy slang.
The North Pacific|Willis Boyd Allen
Our abbreviation, which certainly smacks of slang, has been stamped with the authority of George, Ranger.
A Dictionary of Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words|A London Antiquary
Besides the fact that slang often becomes good English, we have to notice that good English often becomes slang.
Stories That Words Tell Us|Elizabeth O'Neill
British Dictionary definitions for slang
slang
/ (slæŋ) /
noun
vocabulary, idiom, etc, that is not appropriate to the standard form of a language or to formal contexts, may be restricted as to social status or distribution, and is characteristically more metaphorical and transitory than standard language
(as modifier)a slang word
another word for jargon 1
verb
to abuse (someone) with vituperative language; insult
Vote For The Best Slang Word In English: Round Two Is Open!Last week, you told us how you really felt about popular slang words in round one of voting on our March Madness bracket. This week, we're asking you to vote on the remaining 32 words in our slang bracket, a Dictionary Sweet Sixteen, if you will.
READ MORE
It’s March Madness: Pick The Best Slang Word In EnglishHere at Dictionary.com, we're looking to create a little March Madness of our own: We're hosting a tournament of slang words, and you get to decide which one takes the crown.
Expressions that do not belong to standard written English. For example, “flipping out” is slang for “losing one's mind” or “losing one's temper.” Slang expressions are usually inappropriate in formal speech or writing. (See jargon.)