Added 9 October 2026
slash
/slaʃ/ noun
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about slash at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A slashing action or motion: A swift, broad cutting stroke, especially one made with an edged weapon or whip.
A slash of his blade just missed my ear.
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A swift, broad cutting stroke, especially one made with an edged weapon or whip.
A slash of his blade just missed my ear.
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A wide striking motion made with an implement such as a cricket bat, hockey stick, or lacrosse stick.
He took a wild slash at the ball but the captain saved the team's skin by hacking it clear and setting up the team for a strike on the goal.
verb
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To cut or attempt to cut, particularly: To cut with a swift broad stroke of an edged weapon.
They slashed at him with their swords, but only managed to nick one of his fingers.
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To cut with a swift broad stroke of an edged weapon.
They slashed at him with their swords, but only managed to nick one of his fingers.
- To produce a similar wound with a savage strike of a whip.
adverb
conjunction
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Used to connect two or more identities in a list.
Saul Hudson is a famous musician/songwriter.
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Used to list alternatives.
Alternatives can be marked by the slash/stroke/solidus punctuation mark, a tall, right-slanting oblique line.
Origin
Late Middle English, originally a verb of uncertain etymology. Perhaps of imitative origin, or possibly from Old French esclachier (“to break in pieces”), a variant of esclater, which is likely a Germanic borrowing, from Frankish *slaitan (“to slit, tear”). Used in the Wycliffe Bible as slascht (see 1 Kings 5:18) but otherwise unattested until 16th century. Conjunctive use from various applications of the punctuation mark ⟨/⟩. See also slash fiction.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)