slasher: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal (in horror genre context); Neutral (in tool/price context)
Quick answer
What does “slasher” mean?
A person or thing that slashes, especially a violent attacker who cuts or stabs victims.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that slashes, especially a violent attacker who cuts or stabs victims.
A genre of horror film featuring graphic violence, often involving a masked killer stalking and murdering a group of people. Also refers to a tool for cutting, or a person who drastically reduces prices or budgets.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The horror genre term is universal. The 'price slasher' commercial usage might be slightly more common in UK marketing.
Connotations
Strongly associated with 1980s horror films. Can have a playful, hyperbolic tone in commercial contexts (e.g., 'price slasher sale').
Frequency
Higher frequency in pop culture discussions; lower in everyday conversation outside specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “slasher” in a Sentence
[Adj] slasherslasher [Noun]slasher from [Place/Time]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slasher” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- That new horror film is just another predictable slasher.
- The supermarket is running a 'Price Slasher' promotion this week.
American English
- 'Halloween' is considered the prototype of the modern slasher.
- The corporate slasher came in and eliminated 500 jobs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal term for a manager who makes severe budget cuts. 'The new CFO is a real slasher; half the departments are facing reductions.'
Academic
Used in film studies to describe a sub-genre of horror. 'The paper examines gender roles in 1980s slasher cinema.'
Everyday
Almost exclusively refers to horror movies. 'We watched a cheesy slasher last night.'
Technical
Can refer to a type of cutting tool in forestry or agriculture.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slasher”
- Using 'slasher' for any violent person (it strongly implies use of a bladed weapon or cutting). Confusing it with 'slasher' as a fan fiction genre (which is different).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but that is its most common use. It can also describe a person who cuts prices or budgets severely, or a type of cutting tool.
A slasher focuses on graphic, often weapon-based violence and a body count, frequently with a supernatural or relentless killer. A psychological thriller focuses on mental tension, fear, and suspense, with less explicit gore.
Rarely. In a business context ('price slasher'), it can be positive for consumers but negative for competitors or employees. It generally carries negative or sensationalist connotations.
'Halloween' (1978), 'Friday the 13th' (1980), 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984), and 'Scream' (1996) which is a meta-commentary on the genre.
A person or thing that slashes, especially a violent attacker who cuts or stabs victims.
Slasher is usually informal (in horror genre context); neutral (in tool/price context) in register.
Slasher: in British English it is pronounced /ˈslæʃ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈslæʃ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A slasher in the night”
- “Turn into a real slasher (figurative, for a budget meeting)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound 'SLASH' a knife makes in a horror film, plus '-er' for the person doing it.
Conceptual Metaphor
VIOLENCE IS A CLEAVING/CUTTING FORCE; REDUCTION IS CUTTING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'slasher' LEAST likely be used?