slit

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈslit 

: a long narrow cut or opening

slit adjective

a slit skirt [=a skirt with a vertical slit at the hem]

slitless

ˈslit-ləs 

adjective

slit

2 of 4

verb

slit; slitting

transitive verb

1

a

: to make a slit in

b

: to cut off or away : sever

c

: to form into a slit

2

: to cut into long narrow strips

slitter noun

slitter

3 of 4

transitive verb

slit·​ter

ˈslitə(r), 

-itə-

-ed/-ing/-s

: to cut the edge of (a garment) in ornamental slits

slitter

4 of 4

noun (2)

"

plural -s

1

: a slitting machine or device: such as

a

: a thin wheel of bronze or soft steel charged with diamond dust or emery for slitting or sawing precious stones

b

: a rapidly revolving sharpened disk for trimming or cutting a web of paper into narrower rolls

c

: a machine for slitting motion-picture film

2

: an operator of a machine for slitting (as metal, textiles, paper, or plastics)

Synonyms of slit

Noun (1)

• tear
• incision
• slash
• gash

Verb

• slice
• slash
• rip
• cut
• pierce

Examples of slit in a Sentence

Noun (1)

You could see through the slit in the fence.

The skirt has a slit on one side.

a dress with a slit skirt

Verb

I slit the bag open at the top.

The bag of seeds had been slit open.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Featuring a drapey silhouette for that just-right fit without restriction, side slits for optimal mobility, and an impossibly soft fabric, this is the kind of pullover that will stay in your travel lineup for years to come. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2026

The dress had metal straps holding it together, which created a side slit that ran the length of her body. — Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2026

Verb

Every Black Dove attends to their duties with all deliberate stabbing, throat-slitting, and shooting speed, except for Reed. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026

Bevins, sung by the tenor Jonah Hoskins, is a young gay man who slit his wrists after being jilted by a lover. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Noun (2)

Middle English, from slitten

Verb

Middle English slitten; akin to Middle High German slitzen to slit, Old High German slīzan to tear apart, Old English sciell shell — more at shell

Transitive verb

Middle English sliteren, slitteren, frequentative of slitten to slit

First Known Use

Noun (1)

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing slit

• gill slit
• slit one's wrists
• slit trench

Rhymes for slit

• bit
• brit
• britt
• chit
• fit
• flit
• grit
• hit
• it
• kitt
• knit
• lit

Kids Definition

slit

1 of 2 verb

ˈslit 

slit; slitting

1

a

: to make a slit in : slash

b

: to cut off or away : sever

2

: to cut into long narrow strips

slitter noun

slit

2 of 2 noun

: a long narrow cut or opening

slit adjective

slitless

-ləs

adjective