slot machine

noun

1
: a machine whose operation is begun by dropping a coin into a slot
2
: an originally coin-operated gambling machine that pays off according to the matching of symbols on wheels spun by a handle
also : an electronic version of this machine

Examples of slot machine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the past, casinos were required to shut down slot machines and issue players a tax form to fill out on jackpots of more than $1,200. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 30 Dec. 2025 Most of a casino’s revenue is generated from slot machines, and much of the slot machine revenue is generated from a small subset of gamblers. Annie Nova, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025 The November vote came after Missouri lawmakers had tried, and failed, to pass similar legislation amid bitter infighting among Senate Republicans over whether gas station slot machines, which exist in a murky legal area, should also be regulated. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 Dec. 2025 There are dozens of slot machines where travelers can press their luck when departing or arriving on a flight into the famed gaming town. Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slot machine

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of slot machine was in 1891

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Cite this Entry

“Slot machine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slot%20machine. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

slot machine

noun
1
: a machine whose operation is begun when a coin is dropped into a slot
2
: a coin-operated gambling machine that pays off for the matching of symbols on wheels spun by a handle

More from Merriam-Webster on slot machine

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