adj

slick

slihk

adj

Smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid.

"The road was slick with rain, so she slowed down."

Impressively smooth and polished in style, sometimes to the point of seeming untrustworthy.

"The salesman gave a slick pitch that felt just a little too polished."

"It was a slick presentation, full of graphics and confident soundbites."

noun

A layer of oil or another liquid spread across a surface.

"An oil slick spread across the bay after the tanker ran aground."

How to Use Slick

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSmooth and slippery in the literal sense, or impressively polished (sometimes suspiciously so) in the figurative sense.

Common mistake

Calling someone "slick" can be a compliment (clever, smooth) or a subtle insult (untrustworthy) depending on tone — context matters.

Common pairings

oil slick slick presentation slick talker

slicker comparative, slicked past tense, slicks plural, slicks singular, slickest superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The road was _____ with rain, so she slowed down.

From Old English slīc, "sleek, smooth, crafty," tracing to a Germanic root meaning "to glide, smooth, spread."

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