slipper

1 of 2

adjective

slip·​per ˈsli-pər 

chiefly dialectal

: slippery

slipper

2 of 2

noun

: a light low-cut shoe that is easily slipped on the foot

slippered

ˈsli-pərd 

adjective

Examples of slipper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Koolaburra by Ugg Women’s Burree Slippers Step into cozy comfort with the Koolaburra by Ugg slippers, on sale for $55. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2025

Unflappable, Xhaka has the aura of one who has slipped into comfy slippers and a favourite armchair, at home in the growling adversity faced by a club for whom survival remains the overriding goal. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

There are also deals on gift-worthy picks for the holidays, like this leather crossbody bag that balances a smart design with style, as well as these cozy slipper socks that are just the right size to stuff in a stocking. —Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025

Evshine Fuzzy Slippers These popular slippers are a fan favorite among shoppers. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English slipir, sliper "causing something to slide or slip, deceitful," going back to Old English slipor, sliper, going back to Germanic *slip-ra- (whence also Old High German sleffar "sloping downward"), adjective derivative from the base of Germanic *sleipan- (strong verb) "to slide, slip" (whence Middle Dutch slīpen "to smooth, polish, sharpen," Middle Low German, "to glide, sink, slip," Old High German slīfan "to slide, pass away, decline"), of uncertain origin

Note: The adjective slipper has been effectively replaced by its derivative slippery, though the former was in existence in dialect late enough to be noticed by the Survey of English Dialects, which recorded it in Devon and Cornwall (see Survey of English Dialects: The Dictionary and Grammar, Routledge, 1994, s.v.). — The Germanic verb has been compared with Greek olibrón, glossed by Hesychius with olisthērón "slippery," though the assumption of an Indo-European etymon *h₃slib-ro-, with both *b and a laryngeal preceding a sibilant, seems questionable. Parallel to *sleipan- is a verb *sleupan- "to creep, glide," which has been explained as a secondary formation based on near-synonymous *sleuban- (see slip entry 5, sleeve). As all these bases are ultimately of phonesthemic origin and can presumably be reshaped by variation of phonesthemic origin, it is difficult to disentangle inheritance from innovation. Compare slip entry 1.

Noun

Middle English slypper, from slippen "to slip entry 1" + -er -er entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing slipper

• carpet slipper
• lady's slipper
• slipper chair

Rhymes for slipper

• chipper
• clipper
• dipper
• flipper
• gripper
• kipper
• nipper
• ripper
• shipper
• skipper
• stripper
• tipper

Kids Definition

slipper

noun

slip·​per

ˈslip-ər

: a light low shoe without laces that is easily slipped on or off

slippered

-ərd

adjective