slate

1 of 3

noun

ˈslāt 

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

slatelike

ˈslāt-ˌlīk 

adjective

slate

2 of 3

verb (1)

slated; slating

transitive verb

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.

slate

3 of 3

verb (2)

slated; slating

transitive verb

1

: to thrash or pummel severely

2

chiefly British : to criticize or censure severely

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• schedule
• register
• record
• enter
• list
• catalog

Verb (2)

• lick
• pound
• hide
• pelt
• whip
• lash
• knock
• batter
• do
• assault
• hit
• slap
• bat
• attack
• beat
• smash
• punch
• box
• tan
• thump

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

Noun

Further titles on its slate include erotic thriller Blurred, starring Alex Pettyfer and Guy Pearce; YA adventure The Queen’s Jewels, starring Carson Rowland, Katherine McNamara and Michael Evans Behling; and Bulgarian horror Samodiva, featuring Jack Parr, Sophie Craig and Richard Brake. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025

The slate coasters feature little pads to keep the smooth, rock material from scuffing your table. —Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025

Verb

Representatives from various branches of the Armed Forces and city dignitaries are slated to attend. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025

The $500 million DAVINCI mission is slated to launch in the early 2030s as a combination orbiter and descent probe. —Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025

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

Phrases Containing slate

• blank slate
• clean slate
• slate black
• slate blue
• slate gray
• wipe the slate clean

Rhymes for slate

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids Definition

slate

1 of 2 noun

ˈslāt 

1

: 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

slatelike

-ˌlīk 

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