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

Verb

• bend
• color
• cook
• distort
• falsify
• fudge
• garble
• misinterpret
• misrelate
• misrepresent
• misstate
• pervert
• twist
• warp

Noun

• cant
• diagonal
• grade
• gradient
• inclination
• incline
• lean
• pitch
• rake
• slope
• upgrade

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

Opponents slanted their protections toward him all season. —Ben Standig, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

Carvers smoothed the artifact’s surface before using a flint tool to etch a pattern of slanting lines. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025

Noun

With no formal legal training, Brand’s performance as his own lawyer has brought an unusual slant to the trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. —Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025

Campbell once outran five defenders while turning a slant from Leary into a 58-yard touchdown against Delsea High, a New Jersey juggernaut. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 May 2025

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