slate

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noun

ˈslāt

Synonyms of slate next

: a piece of construction material (such as laminated rock) prepared as a shingle for roofing and siding

: a dense fine-grained metamorphic rock produced by the compression of various sediments (such as clay or shale) so as to develop a characteristic cleavage

: a tablet (as of slate) used for writing on

: a written or unwritten record (as of deeds)

started with a clean slate

: a list of candidates for nomination or election

: a dark purplish gray

: any of various grays similar in color to common roofing slates

slate adjective

slatelike

ˈslāt-ˌlīk

adjective

slate

2 of 3

verb (1)

slated; slating

transitive verb

: to cover (something) with slate or a slatelike substance

slate a roof

: to designate (someone or something) for a specified purpose or action occurring especially at a fixed time

was slated to direct the play

The new model is slated [=scheduled] for release early next year.

slate

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verb (2)

slated; slating

transitive verb

: to thrash or pummel severely

chiefly British : to criticize or censure severely

Example Sentences

Noun Some school blackboards are made of slate. The house has a slate roof.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

From allegedly abusing Dunphy and being constantly drunk to making vile comments about public figures and pretty much every single culture, the lawsuit levels a slate of disturbing accusations against the longtime Trump lackey. —

Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 16 May 2023 Eight senators sent a letter Monday to Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, urging him to finalize a slate of new rules for private-fund advisers that the agency released in draft form last year. —

Chris Cumming, WSJ, 16 May 2023 Trump famously bulldozed through a slate of 16 major Republican foes in 2016 who tried to contrast him on policy and temperament. —

Ryan King, Washington Examiner, 14 May 2023 In its favor, the state has lined up a slate of mammoth projects that could come close to making a clean grid by 2030, if not get all the way there. —

Sabrina Shankman, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023 The over-the-top competition is back in action this year, with an incredible slate of new songs indicating some tough competition. —

Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2023 Lawmakers are working to inject Christianity into the state’s public schools through a slate of bills under consideration in the Texas Legislature. —

Talia Richman, Dallas News, 12 May 2023 Managed by David Unger and Aleksey Ageyev at Artist International Group, Tan in currently London-based and is currently developing a slate of English language films and series. —

Patrick Frater, Variety, 12 May 2023 Its series losses came at the hands of Duke, Notre Dame and Florida State, which ended a 22-2 conference slate by sweeping the Cardinals and earning the top seed in the ACC tournament. —

The Courier-Journal, 11 May 2023

Verb

His arraignment was slated for Wednesday in Charlestown Municipal Court. —

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2023 His next feature, Next Goal Wins, is slated for release in the fall by Searchlight Pictures. —

Thr Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2023 The film is slated for a day-and-date release this summer. —

Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2023 The Arizona Department of Transportation is back with another round of closures and restrictions slated for Valley highways this weekend. —

The Arizona Republic, 12 May 2023 After her trip to Alaska, the first lady is slated to join President Joe Biden for the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan. —

Riley Rogerson, Anchorage Daily News, 12 May 2023 The winner of Sunday’s match advances to the national semifinals, set for Friday in Indianapolis, with the championship game slated for May 21. —

Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 12 May 2023 And Allen had been slated to perform at CMA Fest in Nashville next month. —

Diana Dasrath, NBC News, 12 May 2023 Advertisement This fall, the second ViaSat-3 covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa is slated to launch, followed roughly six months later by ViaSat-3 Asia Pacific. —

Mike Freeman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sclate, slate, from Anglo-French *esclat, from esclater to splinter, break off, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German zesleizzen, slīzan to tear apart — more at slit

Verb (2)

probably alteration of slat entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of slate was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century