English Lexicon

Slang

/slæŋ/
nounverbCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #3400 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A type of language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people.

    "Teenagers always seem to invent new slang terms every year."
As verb
  1. 1

    To use slang or to address someone with insulting or abusive language.

    "He tended to slang his critics whenever his policies were questioned."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Originating in the mid-18th century in English, 'slang' likely emerged as a clipped form of 'beggars' language' or from thieves' cant. It originally referred to the special vocabulary used by low or disreputable strata of society before evolving into a broader linguistic term for highly informal words and expressions.

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