# slippery

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈslɪpəɹi/ · frequency rank #12,860

## Definitions
1. Of a surface, having low friction, often due to being covered in a non-viscous liquid, and therefore hard to grip, hard to stand on without falling, etc.
2. Evasive; difficult to pin down.
3. Liable to slip; not standing firm.
4. Unstable; changeable; inconstant.
5. Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals.

## Etymology
From Middle English slipperie, an extended form ( + -y) of Middle English slipper, sliper (“slippery”), from Old English slipor (“slippery”), from Proto-Germanic *slipraz (“smooth, slippery”), equivalent to slip + -er. Compare also Middle English slibbri, slubbri (“slippery”) borrowed from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German slibberich (“slippery”). Cognate with German schlüpfrig (“slippery”), Danish slibrig (“slippery”), Swedish slipprig (“slippery”).

## Easily confused with
- **slipped** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slipped-vs-slippery)
- **skipper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skipper-vs-slippery)
- **slipper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slipper-vs-slippery)
- **shipper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shipper-vs-slippery)
- **slippers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slippers-vs-slippery)

## Common misspellings (11)
`lsippery`, `silppery`, `slipepry`, `slipery`, `slipperry`, `slipperyy`, `slippeyr`, `slipprey`, `sllippery`, `slpipery`, `sslippery`

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