adj C1 Advanced Uncommon

slack

slak

Slack (adj) means Loose; not pulled tight. Example: “The rope went slack once he let go of it.”

adj

Loose; not pulled tight.

"The rope went slack once he let go of it."

"Check that the safety harness isn't too slack."

Not busy or active.

"Business has been slack since the holidays ended."

Careless or lacking effort.

"He's been a bit slack with his homework lately."

noun

The loose or unused part of something, especially a rope.

"Take up the slack in the line before you pull."

verb

To reduce effort or avoid work.

"He's been slacking off at work since the promotion fell through."

How to use slack

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLoose, not tight — or, describing a person, not putting in enough effort.

Common pairings

take up the slack slack off cut someone some slack

Word forms

slacker comparative, slacked past tense, slacks plural, slacks plural, Slacks plural, slacks singular, slackest superlative

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The rope went _____ once he let go of it.

Etymology

From Old English slæc ("slack, lazy"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning loose or slow.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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lax sluggish idle loose negligent

Related words

separate slow drunk tight exact loose lazy escaped

Rhymes for slack

ACK jack hack back tack wack pack sack rack lack Mack Zack

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Frequently asked questions

What does “slack” mean?

The word “slack” means loose; not pulled tight. In plain terms, loose, not tight — or, describing a person, not putting in enough effort.

How do you pronounce “slack”?

“Slack” is pronounced slak (/slæk/ in IPA).

How do you use “slack” in a sentence?

Here is “slack” used in a sentence: “The rope went slack once he let go of it.”

What part of speech is “slack”?

Depending on how it is used, “slack” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “slack” come from?

The word “slack” comes from Old English. From Old English slæc ("slack, lazy"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning loose or slow.

Is “slack” a common word?

“Slack” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “slack” have?

“Slack” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: loose; not pulled tight.

What is the difference between 'slack' meaning loose and 'slack' meaning careless?

'Slack' meaning loose describes something physically not pulled tight, such as a slack rope. 'Slack' meaning careless describes a lack of effort or attention, such as slack work habits, and applies to behavior rather than physical tension.

What is the difference between 'slack' as an adjective and as a verb?

As an adjective, 'slack' describes something loose, inactive, or careless, such as a slack economy. As a verb, 'to slack' means to reduce effort or avoid work, as in 'slacking off.'

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