slain: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Literary, formal, journalistic, archaic. The informal sense is colloquial and modern.
Quick answer
What does “slain” mean?
The past participle of 'slay'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past participle of 'slay'; means 'killed', especially in a violent or deliberate way.
In modern informal use, it can mean 'impressed greatly' or 'performed exceptionally well' (e.g., 'You slayed that performance!').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in the core meaning. The informal sense ('to impress/perform well') originated in African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) and is used similarly in both varieties, though perhaps more prevalent in US media initially.
Connotations
In both, the literal sense carries a formal, dramatic, or old-fashioned weight. The informal sense is casual, trendy, and positive.
Frequency
The literal 'killed' sense is low-frequency in everyday speech for both. The informal sense is moderately frequent in youth culture and media discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “slain” in a Sentence
BE + slain (passive)HAVE + slain + (Object) (past perfect, active)slain + BY + agentVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slain” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The knight had slain the beast.
- Many were slain in the battle of Hastings.
American English
- The dragon was slain by the hero.
- He claims to have slain the monster.
adverb
British English
- N/A – 'slain' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A – 'slain' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The slain soldiers were given a full military funeral.
- A monument was built for the slain leader.
American English
- The names of the slain officers were read aloud.
- Forensics examined the slain victim's body.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in literal sense. The informal sense might be used metaphorically in marketing ('Our new design slays!').
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or theological texts (e.g., 'the slain warriors were buried with honour').
Everyday
Rarely used for 'killed' in casual conversation. The informal sense is common in social contexts regarding fashion, performance, or success.
Technical
Used in forensic or journalistic reports as a more dramatic synonym for 'killed' (e.g., 'the victim was slain at close range').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slain”
- Using 'slained' as the past tense/participle (incorrect; it's slew/slain).
- Using the literal sense in casual conversation where 'killed' is more natural, sounding archaic or pretentious.
- Misspelling as 'slane'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its literal meaning ('killed') is uncommon in everyday speech and is mostly found in literature, news headlines, or historical contexts. Its informal meaning ('to excel') is common in casual, especially youth, conversation.
'Slain' is more literary/dramatic and often implies violence. 'Killed' is neutral and general. 'Murdered' specifically implies unlawful, premeditated killing.
Only if the context is appropriate (e.g., a literary analysis, a historical account). In most academic essays, 'killed' or more specific terms like 'executed' or 'assassinated' are preferable.
Present: slay/slays. Past: slew. Past Participle: slain. Present Participle: slaying.
The past participle of 'slay'.
Slain is usually literary, formal, journalistic, archaic. the informal sense is colloquial and modern. in register.
Slain: in British English it is pronounced /sleɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /sleɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Let the slain bury the slain. (biblical, meaning: let those directly involved deal with the consequences)”
- “The slain shall rise. (apocalyptic/religious)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'STAIN' – violence often leaves a stain, and 'SLAIN' is the result of violent killing. Or, 'The dragon was SLAIN, causing much GAIN for the village.'
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS WAR / SUCCESS IS VICTORY IN BATTLE (informal sense: 'slaying' a presentation = conquering it like an enemy).
Practice
Quiz
In modern informal language, what does 'She slayed that job interview!' most likely mean?