WordGarden.ioslash
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /slˈæʃ/
US
- /ˈslæʃ/
Meanings
Verb
to cut or wound with a sweeping stroke of a blade or other sharp edge
to reduce something sharply, especially prices, spending, or jobs
Noun
the symbol / used in writing for alternatives, dates, or paired roles
a long cut or wound made by something sharp
the / character used in computing, especially in web addresses, file paths, or command syntax
Beyond the definition
This word often suggests a quick, forceful cut. You can use it for action with something sharp, like cutting ropes, marking bread dough before baking, or striking at something with claws or a knife. It can also mean reducing something by a large amount, as when a store cuts prices or a budget is cut fast.
It also appears in everyday writing as the forward slash (/). You see it in dates, file paths, and phrases like "and/or," where it separates choices or related items. So the word can point to both a strong cut and a simple dividing mark.
The word "slash" usually brings to mind a fast, strong cutting motion. In its most direct sense, it means to make a long or violent cut with something sharp, such as a knife, sword, or claws. A person might slash through thick plants to clear a path, or an animal might slash at an enemy. It can also describe a bold line or cut made across a surface, including marks made with a pen or blade.
From there, the meaning extends naturally into figurative use. To slash prices, costs, jobs, or spending is to reduce them sharply and quickly, often by a large amount. This use is common in business, news, and everyday speech because it suggests not just a decrease, but a sudden and noticeable one.
"Slash" is also the name of the forward slash symbol (/). In writing, it separates choices, paired ideas, or parts of a date. You might see it in "and/or," in dates like "12/25," or in file paths on computers. In this role, it is less about force and more about division, connection, or alternatives.
There are also a few narrower uses. Bakers may slash the top of bread dough before baking so it can open as it rises. In popular culture, "slash fiction" refers to fan stories about a romantic pairing, named after the slash placed between two characters' names.
Taken together, "slash" is a vivid word. It can describe cutting, attacking, marking, dividing, or sharply reducing something, depending on the context.
Examples
- 1
Packaging
She slashed the tape and opened the package.
- 2
Animal scratch
The cat slashed at his arm when he tried to pick it up.
- 3
Cut mark
A thorn left a thin slash across my ankle.
- 4
Price reduction
The store slashed the price of winter coats in March.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Time saving
The new app has slashed the time it takes to book an appointment.
- 6
Punctuation
Write your birth date with slashes, like 04/17/2026.
- 7
Combined roles
In her bio, she describes herself as a writer/director.
- Phrasewriter/director
someone who is both a writer and a director
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- slashnounverb
Forms
- slashedpast tenseverbnoun
- slashing-ing formverbnoun
- slashespluralnounverb