Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

slur

noun (1)
\ ˈslər \

Definition of slur

 (Entry 1 of 4)

1a : 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

verb (1)
slurred; slurring

Definition of slur (Entry 2 of 4)

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

verb (2)
slurred; slurring

Definition of slur (Entry 3 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : 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
3a : 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

noun (2)

Definition of slur (Entry 4 of 4)

1a : 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

First Known Use of slur

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

History and Etymology for slur

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about slur

Dictionary Entries near slur

slunk

slunkskin

slup

slur

slurb

slurp

slurry

Statistics for slur

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for slur

The first known use of slur was in 1609

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for slur

slur

noun
\ ˈslər \

Kids Definition of slur

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: an insulting remark

slur

verb
slurred; slurring

Kids Definition of slur (Entry 2 of 3)

: to speak in a way that is difficult to understand

slur

noun

Kids Definition of slur (Entry 3 of 3)

: a way of talking that is difficult to understand

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on slur

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with slur

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for slur

Spanish Central: Translation of slur

Nglish: Translation of slur for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of slur for Arabic Speakers

Comments on slur

What made you want to look up slur? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

wherewithal

means, resources, or money

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

TRENDING NOW

  1. cache BuzzFeed reports on Trump-Cohen documents.

  2. intransigence, intransigent Trump cancels Davos trip.

  3. white supremacist Steve King discusses views.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games