slant

1 of 2

verb

ˈslant 

slanted; slanting; slants

intransitive verb

1

: to take a diagonal course, direction, or path

2

: to turn or incline from a right line or a level : slope

transitive verb

1

: to give an oblique or sloping direction to

2

: to interpret or present in line with a special interest : angle

stories slanted toward youth

especially : to maliciously or dishonestly distort or falsify

slantingly

ˈslan-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

slant

2 of 2

noun

1

: a slanting direction, line, or plane : slope

2

a

: something that slants

b

: slash sense 4

c

: a football running play in which the ballcarrier runs obliquely toward the line of scrimmage

3

a

: a peculiar or personal point of view, attitude, or opinion

b

: a slanting view : glance

slant adjective

slantways

ˈslant-ˌwāz 

adverb

slantwise

ˈslant-ˌwīz 

adverb or adjective

slanty

ˈslan-tē 

adjective

Synonyms of slant

Verb

• distort
• misrepresent
• twist

Noun

• slope
• inclination
• incline

Examples of slant in a Sentence

Verb

The sunlight slanted down through the leaves and branches of the trees.

She slanted her hat a little to the right.

They deliberately slanted the story to make themselves look good.

Noun

The computer keyboard is positioned at a slant so that typing is more comfortable for the wrists.

He sliced the carrots on a slant.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sinks on the vanity have slanted, green marble angles giving them a trendy look, and the faucet’s water spray is equivalent to a drenching rainfall shower (wide, strong, and incredibly impressive). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026

Install a fence that’s slanted outward and about 3 feet tall with a short section buried underground. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 May 2026

Noun

The most notable changes on the Air Force 1 ’01 occur in its silhouette, specifically the slant of the toe box. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 18 June 2026

Various factors go into determining whether the signatures match, including the slant of the signature, whether it is printed or written in cursive, and the size, proportions or scale. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English slenten to fall obliquely, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect slenta to slope, Old Norse sletta to throw carelessly

First Known Use

Verb

1644, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing slant

• slant height

Rhymes for slant

• ant
• aunt
• cant
• chant
• gant
• lant
• pant
• plant
• quant
• rant
• sant
• scant

Kids Definition

slant

1 of 2 verb

ˈslant 

1

: to turn or incline from a straight line or a level : slope

2

: to interpret or present according to a special viewpoint

slant

2 of 2 noun

1

: a slanting direction, line, or plane : slope

2

: something that slants

3

: a way of looking at something

get a new slant on the problem

slant adjective

slanty

ˈslant-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

slant

noun

ˈslant 

: a culture medium solidified obliquely in a tube so as to increase the surface area

a blood-agar slant

compare stab sense 2a