slur

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈslər 

1

a

: an insulting or disparaging remark or innuendo : aspersion

b

: a shaming or degrading effect : stain, stigma

2

: a blurred spot in printed matter : smudge

slur

2 of 4

verb (1)

slurred; slurring

transitive verb

1

: to cast aspersions on : disparage

slurred his reputation

2

: to make indistinct : obscure

intransitive verb

: to slip so as to cause a slur

—used of a sheet being printed

slur

3 of 4

verb (2)

slurred; slurring

transitive verb

1

a

: to slide or slip over without due mention, consideration, or emphasis

slurred over certain facts

b

: to perform hurriedly : skimp

let him not slur his lesson

—R. W. Emerson

2

: to perform (successive tones of different pitch) in a smooth or connected manner

3

a

: to reduce, make a substitution for, or omit (sounds that would normally occur in an utterance)

b

: to utter with such reduction, substitution, or omission of sounds

his speech was slurred

intransitive verb

1

dialectal, chiefly England : slip, slide

2

: drag, shuffle

slur

4 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: a curved line connecting notes to be sung to the same syllable or performed without a break

b

: the combination of two or more slurred tones

2

: a slurring manner of speech

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• insult
• offence
• sarcasm

Examples of slur in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a rowdy group of patrons was kicked out of the theater for shouting slurs

your drunken behavior at the wedding has cast a slur on this family

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

He was also convicted of one misdemeanor count of hate crime assault in 2017 after punching a Filipino and Turkish man multiple times and calling him a racial slur, leading to a one-year sentence in county jail. —Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 24 June 2025

For many, her exit was likely welcome – before the show even premiered, the 27-year-old Miami businesswoman became the subject of controversy when several clips of her using a racial slur on a podcast surfaced. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 June 2025

Verb

For strokes, look for face drooping, inability to smile properly or equally on both sides, slurring of words and difficulty raising the arms. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

During his performance on Saturday, June 21, at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pa., the country star began slurring his words during the first few songs of his set. —Marina Watts, People.com, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

obsolete English dialect slur thin mud, from Middle English sloor; akin to Middle High German slier mud

Verb (2)

probably from Low German slurrn to shuffle; akin to Middle English sloor mud

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1660, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1660, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for slur

• birr
• blur
• bur
• cur
• er
• fir
• fur
• furr
• gurr
• her
• murr
• myrrh

Kids Definition

slur

1 of 4 verb

ˈslər 

slurred; slurring

1

a

: to slide or slip over without proper mention, consideration, or emphasis

b

: to perform hurriedly : skimp

2

: to sing or play successive musical notes of different pitch in a smooth or connected manner

3

: to speak unclearly

slur

2 of 4 noun

1

a

: a curved line connecting notes to be sung or played without a break

b

: the combination of two or more slurred tones

2

: a slurring manner of speech

slur

3 of 4 verb

slurred; slurring

1

: to make an insulting remark about : disparage

2

: to make unclear : obscure

slur

4 of 4 noun

1

a

: damaging criticism

b

: dishonor entry 1 sense 1, shame

2

: a blurred spot in printed matter : smudge