slasher

noun

slash·​er ˈsla-shər 

plural slashers

1

: someone or something that slashes

especially : a person who mutilates or kills with an edged blade

Sociopathic slashers terrorize the Adirondacks, but can they foil a motley crew of campers from Manhattan?

—Kirkus Reviews

2

: a horror story (especially a movie or book) in which the villain is a serial killer and especially a slasher

—often used before another noun

A gory, … not-for-the-weak, slasher novel for teens.

—Carol Youssif

… my youngest son is a big fan of slasher movies. … where he got this affinity for films featuring large knives and chainsaws and, oh, yes, some actual actors is a mystery.

—Gary Smith

Examples of slasher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Writer-director Joshua Giuliano, making his feature debut, understands the mechanics of the slasher-thriller in a deep way, having fun with audience expectations as a trio of siblings take a boat trip to dispose of their father’s ashes. — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

The actor, who starred as OG Ghostface Stu Macher in the original 1996 slasher and returned for the seventh entry, was candid about his complex feelings during a Tuesday night Q&A session for a Scream 30th anniversary screening. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Sep. 2026

Onslaught Is All Blood, No Guts Adam Wingard’s latest film is a too-slick wannabe grindhouse action-slasher lacking the engine necessary to power it. — Britina Cheng, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

One player takes the role of Michael Myers, the relentless slasher from the classic 1978 movie. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for slasher

• asher
• brasher
• dasher
• flasher
• lasher
• masher
• thrasher
• haberdasher