adj
Uncommon
slender
SLEHN-duh
Slender (adj) means Thin and gracefully built. Example: “She had a slender frame and moved with obvious grace.”
adj
1
Thin and gracefully built.
"She had a slender frame and moved with obvious grace."
2
Small in amount or scarcely sufficient.
"They won the election by a slender margin."
"There is only slender evidence to support the claim."
How to use slender
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThin in a pleasing or graceful way, or (of amounts) small and barely enough.
Common mistake
Applied to people, "slender" is a more flattering word than "skinny" — it implies gracefulness rather than just thinness.
Common pairings
slender build
slender margin
slender chance
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- slenders
- Past tense
- slendered
- Comparative
- slenderer, more slender
- Superlative
- slenderest, most slender
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She had a _____ frame and moved with obvious grace.
Etymology
From Old French esclendre ("thin, slender"), traced back to a Germanic root meaning "sliding, slippery" — the same idea behind "slide" and "slither."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for slender
See all rhymes for slender →Frequently asked questions
What does “slender” mean?
The word “slender” means thin and gracefully built. In plain terms, thin in a pleasing or graceful way, or (of amounts) small and barely enough.
How do you pronounce “slender”?
“Slender” is pronounced SLEHN-duh (/ˈslɛndɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “slender” in a sentence?
Here is “slender” used in a sentence: “She had a slender frame and moved with obvious grace.”
What is another word for “slender”?
Words with a similar meaning to “slender” include svelte, willowy, scarce, sparse, gaunt and gracile.
What is the opposite of “slender”?
The opposite of “slender” — its antonyms — are broad, heavy, large, obese and overweight.
What part of speech is “slender”?
“Slender” is an adjective.
Where does the word “slender” come from?
The word “slender” comes from Old French. From Old French esclendre ("thin, slender"), traced back to a Germanic root meaning "sliding, slippery" — the same idea behind "slide" and "slither.".
Is “slender” a common word?
“Slender” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between slender and skinny?
Slender describes a thin, gracefully built figure and usually carries a flattering tone, while skinny suggests excessive or unappealing thinness. For this reason, slender is often the more polite choice.
When should you use slender instead of thin?
Slender is typically chosen when describing a person's figure in an elegant or complimentary way, whereas thin is more neutral and can describe people or objects alike.
Can slender describe things other than a person's body?
Yes, slender can also describe an amount that is small or barely sufficient, as in a "slender majority" or a "slender chance."
Is slender mainly used in formal writing?
Slender is used in both everyday and formal contexts, but it is often preferred for its more polished tone compared to plainer words like thin.
