slammer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, slang
Quick answer
What does “slammer” mean?
A slang term for prison or jail.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A slang term for prison or jail.
Informal noun referring to a place of incarceration; can also refer to a person or thing that slams forcefully (e.g., a door or a powerful shot in sports).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the 'prison' sense. The literal sense (e.g., 'door slammer') is slightly more common in US technical/industrial contexts.
Connotations
Carries a gritty, somewhat dated or cinematic connotation. Not typically used in formal legal contexts.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency. More common in spoken informal English than in writing.
Grammar
How to Use “slammer” in a Sentence
[Subject] was thrown in the slammer.[Subject] did time in the slammer.[Subject] ended up in the slammer.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slammer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare as verb form) He threatened to slammer the door behind him.
American English
- (Rare as verb form) The defender managed to slammer the ball into the stands.
adverb
British English
- (Not used as adverb)
American English
- (Not used as adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard) He had a real slammer of a headache.
American English
- (Not standard) She served a slammer of a tennis ace.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, except in sociological studies of slang.
Everyday
Informal conversations, especially when discussing crime or punishment in a non-serious way.
Technical
Not used. In engineering, a 'slammer' might refer to a type of valve or mechanism, but this is highly specialised.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slammer”
Strong
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slammer”
- Using it in formal writing (e.g., legal documents).
- Confusing it with 'slam' as a verb only.
- Using 'a slammer' instead of the more idiomatic 'the slammer'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently offensive, but it is very informal and can sound flippant when discussing serious incarceration.
It's most commonly used for local jails or prisons in a general sense, not for specific, high-security facilities.
It has a mid-20th century feel but is still understood and used, particularly in certain genres (e.g., noir, hardboiled fiction).
Both are slang for prison. 'The clink' is older and more British in origin, while 'slammer' is common in both BrE and AmE.
A slang term for prison or jail.
Slammer is usually informal, slang in register.
Slammer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈslæm.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈslæm.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “throw the book at someone and send them to the slammer”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound of a prison cell door SLAMMING shut behind someone – that's the SLAMMER.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRISON IS A VIOLENT ENCLOSURE (the slam of a door signifies irrevocable confinement).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'slammer' LEAST appropriate?