# slant

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈslɑːnt/ · frequency rank #23,102

## Definitions
1. A slope; an incline, inclination.
2. A sloped surface or line.
3. A run: a heading driven diagonally between the dip and strike of a coal seam.
4. Synonym of slash ⟨ / ⟩, particularly in its use to set off pronunciations from other text.
5. An oblique movement or course.
6. A sloping surface in a culture medium.
7. A pan with a sloped bottom used for holding paintbrushes.
8. A depression on a palette with a sloping bottom for holding and mixing watercolours.
9. A palette or similar container with slants or sloping depressions.
10. A sarcastic remark; shade, an indirect mocking insult.
11. An opportunity, particularly to go somewhere.
12. A crime committed for the purpose of being apprehended and transported to a major settlement.
13. A point of view, an angle.
14. A look, a glance.
15. A person with slanting eyes, particularly an East Asian.

## Etymology
Late Middle English, from a variant of the earlier form dialectal slent, from Old Norse or another North Germanic source, cognate with Old Norse slent, Swedish slinta (“to slip”), Norwegian slenta (“to fall on the side”), from Proto-Germanic *slintaną. Probably influenced by aslant.

## Easily confused with
- **slot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-slot)
- **span** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-span)
- **stan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-stan)
- **slap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-slap)
- **stat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-stat)
- **swan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-swan)
- **slut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-slut)
- **slit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-slit)
- **SWAT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-swat)
- **slay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-slay)
- **spat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-spat)
- **Slav** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-slav)
- **slaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-slaw)
- **start** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-start)
- **stand** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-stand)
- **spent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-spent)
- **smart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-smart)
- **slave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-slave)
- **slept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-slept)
- **stunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slant-vs-stunt)

## Common misspellings (8)
`lsant`, `salnt`, `slannt`, `slantt`, `slatn`, `sllant`, `slnat`, `sslant`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/slant