noun
sleight
slyt
Sleight (noun) means Skillful, quick trickery, especially in performing a deceptive feat with the hands. Example: “The magician's sleight of hand fooled the entire audience.”
noun
1
Skillful, quick trickery, especially in performing a deceptive feat with the hands.
"The magician's sleight of hand fooled the entire audience."
"It took years of practice to master that particular sleight."
How to use sleight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDexterous, deceptive skill — almost always seen in the fixed phrase "sleight of hand."
Common mistake
Frequently misspelled "slight of hand" — "slight" means small or minor, which is a different word entirely.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sleight of hand
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sleight.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- sleights
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The magician's _____ of hand fooled the entire audience.
Etymology
From Old Norse slœgð, "cunning" — the same root that gave English "sly."
Synonyms
View more →
dexterity
manual dexterity
Related words
Rhymes for sleight
See all rhymes for sleight →Frequently asked questions
What does “sleight” mean?
The word “sleight” means skillful, quick trickery, especially in performing a deceptive feat with the hands. In plain terms, dexterous, deceptive skill — almost always seen in the fixed phrase "sleight of hand.".
How do you pronounce “sleight”?
“Sleight” is pronounced slyt (/slaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “sleight” in a sentence?
Here is “sleight” used in a sentence: “The magician's sleight of hand fooled the entire audience.”
What part of speech is “sleight”?
“Sleight” is a noun.
Where does the word “sleight” come from?
The word “sleight” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse slœgð, "cunning" — the same root that gave English "sly.".
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include sleight:
