slack
slak
Slack (adj) means Loose; not pulled tight. Example: “The rope went slack once he let go of it.”
adj
1
Loose; not pulled tight.
"The rope went slack once he let go of it."
"Check that the safety harness isn't too slack."
"The washing line hung slack between the posts, so the sheets touched the grass."
2
Not busy or active.
"Business has been slack since the holidays ended."
"The cafe is always slack on Tuesday afternoons, so the staff tidy the shelves."
"It was a slack week at the office, with hardly any emails or phone calls."
3
Careless or lacking effort.
"He's been a bit slack with his homework lately."
"The builders were slack about cleaning up, and sawdust covered the whole hallway."
"Her slack attitude to checking the figures led to several embarrassing mistakes."
noun
1
The loose or unused part of something, especially a rope.
"Take up the slack in the line before you pull."
"There was too much slack in the tent rope, so the canvas flapped in the wind."
"The climber let out some slack so her partner could move up the rock."
verb
1
To reduce effort or avoid work.
"He's been slacking off at work since the promotion fell through."
"If you slack during training, you will find the match much harder."
"The students started to slack once the exams were over."
How to use slack
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- slacks
- Third person singular
- slacks
- Past tense
- slacked
- Comparative
- slacker
- Superlative
- slackest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for slack
See all rhymes for slack →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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