slalom: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal; specific to sports (skiing, canoeing, mountain biking) and metaphorical use in business/tech contexts.
Quick answer
What does “slalom” mean?
A downhill skiing race or a canoe/kayak competition in which participants navigate a winding course marked by gates or poles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A downhill skiing race or a canoe/kayak competition in which participants navigate a winding course marked by gates or poles.
Any movement involving a rapid, winding, zigzag path through obstacles or a series of challenges.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use identically for the core sports meanings. Metaphorical use slightly more common in American business/tech jargon.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotes agility, precision, and controlled speed. In metaphorical use, can imply navigating complexity or inefficiency.
Frequency
Equally frequent in sports contexts. Slightly higher metaphorical frequency in AmE publications.
Grammar
How to Use “slalom” in a Sentence
[Subject] slaloms [through Object (obstacles)][Subject] runs the slalom[Event] is a slalomVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slalom” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The skier will slalom through the gates with incredible precision.
- He slalomed past the defenders to score a try.
American English
- The motorbike slalomed through the stalled traffic on the freeway.
- We watched the kayakers slalom down the whitewater course.
adverb
British English
- Not standard usage.
American English
- Not standard usage.
adjective
British English
- He is a slalom specialist on the national team.
- The event featured a challenging slalom course.
American English
- She bought new slalom skis for the season.
- The mountain has a dedicated slalom slope.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for navigating complex regulations or market conditions (e.g., 'The startup had to slalom through a maze of funding rounds.').
Academic
Rare; mostly in sports science literature describing techniques or kinematics.
Everyday
Mainly for describing skiing or agile driving/walking through a crowd.
Technical
Specific to skiing and paddlesports terminology; also in robotics/pathfinding algorithms.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slalom”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “slalom”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slalom”
- Using 'slalom' as a synonym for any race. Confusing it with 'downhill' (straight speed) or 'super-G' events. Misspelling as 'slolam' or 'slallom'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its origin and most common use are in alpine skiing, it is also the official term for a similar gates-based event in canoeing and kayaking (whitewater slalom).
Yes. As a verb ('to slalom'), it means to move rapidly in a winding or zigzag path, literally or metaphorically.
In skiing, slalom has closely spaced gates requiring quick, short turns. Giant slalom (GS) has gates set farther apart, allowing for longer, faster turns and higher speeds.
It comes from Norwegian 'slalåm', from 'sla' (sloping, hillside) and 'låm' (track).
A downhill skiing race or a canoe/kayak competition in which participants navigate a winding course marked by gates or poles.
Slalom is usually neutral to informal; specific to sports (skiing, canoeing, mountain biking) and metaphorical use in business/tech contexts. in register.
Slalom: in British English it is pronounced /ˈslɑː.ləm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈslɑː.ləm/ or /ˈslæl.əm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A bureaucratic slalom”
- “Slalom through red tape”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the double 'L' in 'slalom' as two slalom poles you have to ski between.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/COMPLEX TASKS ARE A SLALOM COURSE (involving twists, turns, and avoiding obstacles).
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts is 'slalom' LEAST likely to be used literally?