slur: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “slur” mean?
to speak unclearly, pronounce indistinctly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to speak unclearly, pronounce indistinctly
To speak words with the sounds running together; also an insulting or damaging remark; in music, to play or sing notes smoothly without separation
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference in American English for 'ethnic slur' over 'racial slur'. Musical term identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'slur' as an insult is strong and serious, especially regarding race, ethnicity, or disability.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; the defamatory sense is more common in news/media contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “slur” in a Sentence
slur (one's words/speech)slur (sb/sth) as sthslur (sb/sth) with sthslur over sthVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slur” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- After the anaesthetic, she slurred her speech for a few hours.
- The politician was accused of slurring his opponent's reputation.
American English
- His words started to slur after the third drink.
- The article slurred the entire community with broad stereotypes.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form. Use 'slurringly' is extremely rare and non-standard).
American English
- (No standard adverb form. Use 'in a slurred manner').
adjective
British English
- (Not standard as a standalone adjective. Use 'slurred' – 'slurred speech').
American English
- (Not standard as a standalone adjective. Use 'slurred' – 'a slurred pronunciation').
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in HR/legal contexts regarding defamatory statements ('The executive resigned after using a racial slur').
Academic
Used in linguistics (speech analysis), musicology, and social sciences (discourse analysis of offensive language).
Everyday
Common for describing unclear speech ('He was so tired his words began to slur') or hearing an insult.
Technical
Music: a curved line connecting notes to be played legato. Speech pathology: a symptom of certain neurological conditions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slur”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “slur”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slur”
- Using 'slur' as a verb without an object (*'He slurred' vs 'He slurred his words').
- Confusing 'slur' (insult) with 'blur' (make unclear).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly yes. As an insult, it's strongly negative. As unclear speech, it's often negative (implying impairment), but in music, it's a neutral technical term for legato playing.
'Slander' is a legal term for spoken defamation. A 'slur' is a specific insulting or disparaging remark, often about a group, and is not strictly a legal term. A slur could be an instance of slander.
Yes, but less commonly than the verb. You might say 'There was a noticeable slur in his pronunciation'.
'Slur over' means to treat something briefly or superficially, to gloss over. E.g., 'The report slurred over the major financial risks.'
to speak unclearly, pronounce indistinctly.
Slur is usually neutral to formal in register.
Slur: in British English it is pronounced /slɜː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /slɝː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cast a slur on someone's character”
- “slur over the details”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SLUR sounds like 'slurp' – imagine someone drunk, slurping a drink and then slurring their words.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH IS A SMOOTH/LIQUID SUBSTANCE (words 'run together'), INSULTS ARE WEAPONS/PROJECTILES ('hurling slurs').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'slur' LEAST likely to be used correctly?