slingback

noun

sling·​back ˈsliŋ-ˌbak 

plural slingbacks

1

: a strap on a shoe that loops around the back of the ankle leaving the heel exposed

a pump with a slingback

a slingback strap

2

: a shoe with a slingback

Selling out twice since launching late-summer, the sparkly slingbacks have become ubiquitous among influencers and fashion heads alike, thanks to their designer look and pocket-friendly price.

—Daisy Lester

Paired with a sleek slingback [=pair of slingbacks] and peplum top, they'll accompany you perfectly to a dinner out on the town.

—Brooke Frischer

—often used before another noun

a slingback style/silhouette

I added a large multicolored pin to hold the scarf and pewter … slingback heels.

—Tammy Duos, quoted in The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

She bought beige slingback pumps with a pink thread running through them, a beige skirt, a crisp pink cotton shirt and pink trench, and it fits with other pieces already in her closet.

—Wendy Navratil

Examples of slingback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Stewart also rocked wide-leg jeans with a white blazer, white tee, and her go-to beige slingback sandals. —Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025

At Prada and Saint Laurent, models wore prim pumps, mirroring the fashion set’s current obsession with office-ready kitten heels and slingbacks. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 7 Aug. 2025

Women have plenty options beyond the obvious slingback heel (though that’s perfect for rooftop Aperol spritzes). —Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

This seems to be a more athletic extension of the penchant for all things metallic witnessed on red carpets as of late, taking the form of sleek slingback heels and height-happy platform pumps. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

sling entry 2 + back entry 1

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing slingback

• slingback heels
• slingback pumps

Rhymes for slingback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback