[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/slang/)

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# slang

noun (uncountable; a slang word); verb (slang, slangs, slanged, slanging — UK, informal)

«slang» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Very informal words and phrases used in casual talk, often by a group such as young people, and not used in formal writing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#m1)
2. (verb, UK, informal) slanging match: an angry argument with insults. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#m2)

### In the lessons

In English lessons pupils learn the difference between slang and standard English. Examples: "cool", "gonna", "arvo" (Australia), "innit" (UK). Slang changes fast and differs between countries. Phrases: slang word, slang term, rhyming slang, slanging match.

### Examples

- "Cool" is slang for "very good". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#x1)
- Don't use slang in your essay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#x2)
- In Australian slang, "arvo" means afternoon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#x3)
- Cockney rhyming slang uses "apples and pears" for stairs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#x4)
- My grandad doesn't understand our slang. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#x5)
- "Quid" is British slang for a pound. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#x6)
- The neighbours had a slanging match over the fence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#x7)
- Real fairies never preach or talk slang. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/#x8)

### Note

Uncountable: "some slang", "a slang word". Slang is not wrong, just informal: fine with friends, not in tests. Slang money words (buck, quid) still mean real amounts in maths problems.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «slang» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slang/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«slang» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/slang.html) on Mova free.