1
: a piece of construction material (such as laminated rock) prepared as a shingle for roofing and siding
2
: 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
3
: a tablet (as of slate) used for writing on
4
a
: a written or unwritten record (as of deeds)
started with a clean slate
b
: a list of candidates for nomination or election
5
a
: a dark purplish gray
b
: any of various grays similar in color to common roofing slates
slate
adjective
slated; slating
1
: to cover (something) with slate or a slatelike substance
slate a roof
2
: 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.
slated; slating
1
: to thrash or pummel severely
2
chiefly British
: to criticize or censure severely
Synonyms of slate
Examples of slate in a Sentence
Noun
Some school blackboards are made of slate.
The house has a slate roof.
Verb (1)
you've been slated for a three o'clock interview
Verb (2)
ready to slate anyone who disagreed
Recent Examples on the Web
Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 17 Nov. 2025
Miami improves to 8-2 (4-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play) and went 7-1 in its eight-game home slate.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Nov. 2025
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
The state claims the maps were drawn as a partisan gerrymander, which is lawful, rather than a racial gerrymander, as the new map was slated to give Republicans five additional seats in the House of Representatives.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slate
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Doing so, according to the DSA alliance-building framework, essentially forms a socialist bloc, allowing the organization to enter elections as a single, unified slate.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 17 Nov. 2025
Miami improves to 8-2 (4-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play) and went 7-1 in its eight-game home slate.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Nov. 2025
Verb
Leiter went through arbitration twice and would have been entering his walk year, but the other three were all eligible for the first time, and would have been slated for pay raises that the Yankees didn't feel were justified.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
The state claims the maps were drawn as a partisan gerrymander, which is lawful, rather than a racial gerrymander, as the new map was slated to give Republicans five additional seats in the House of Representatives.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slate
Cite this Entry
“Slate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slate. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
slate
1 of 2 noun1
: a piece of construction material (as layered rock) prepared as a shingle for roofing and siding
2
: a dense fine-grained rock formed by compression of shales or other rocks that splits readily into thin layers or plates
3
: a tablet of material (as slate) used for writing on
4
a
: a written or unwritten record (as of deeds)
started with a clean slate
b
: a list of candidates for nomination or election
5
a
: a dark purplish gray
b
: a gray similar in color to common roofing slate
slate
adjective
slate
2 of 2 verb
slated; slating
1
: to cover with slate or a slatelike substance
slate a roof
2
: to register or schedule for a special purpose or action
slate a meeting
slater
noun
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