spliff: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low in general corpora; high in specific informal/slang contexts.Informal, slang. Avoided in formal, academic, legal, and most professional writing.
Quick answer
What does “spliff” mean?
A hand-rolled cigarette containing cannabis, typically mixed with tobacco.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hand-rolled cigarette containing cannabis, typically mixed with tobacco.
Informally refers to the act of smoking cannabis or the social context of sharing it.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in UK slang, but widely understood in the US. The US may use 'joint' more frequently.
Connotations
Both carry the same core meaning. UK usage may slightly more often imply a tobacco mix.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK informal speech.
Grammar
How to Use “spliff” in a Sentence
[Subject] rolls a spliff.[Subject] passes [Indirect Object] a spliff.[Subject] smokes a spliff.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spliff” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We decided to spliff up before the film.
- He's out back, spliffing.
American English
- Let's spliff and chill.
- They were spliffing on the porch.
adverb
British English
- He grinned spliff-ly, eyes half-closed.
- They talked spliff-tly and slowly.
American English
- He moved spliff-ly across the room.
- Time passed spliff-tly.
adjective
British English
- He had a spliff-like roll-up in his hand.
- The room had a spliff aroma.
American English
- It was a spliff moment, very relaxed.
- She gave a spliff-inspired smile.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in specific sociolinguistic or drug policy studies as a cited slang term.
Everyday
Used in informal social settings among peers where the topic is acceptable.
Technical
Not used; 'cannabis cigarette' or 'hand-rolled cigarette containing cannabis' would be used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spliff”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spliff”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spliff”
- Misspelling as 'splif' or 'splaff'. Using in formal contexts. Assuming it's a standard English word with wide acceptance.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively informal slang and is inappropriate for formal, academic, or professional communication.
Traditionally, a 'spliff' contains cannabis mixed with tobacco, while a 'joint' can be pure cannabis. However, in modern usage, especially in the US, the terms are often used interchangeably.
It is strongly discouraged. Using informal drug-related slang can lower your score for lexical resource and register appropriateness.
In standard use, no. Its primary meaning is a cannabis cigarette. Any other use would be highly context-specific and non-standard.
A hand-rolled cigarette containing cannabis, typically mixed with tobacco.
Spliff: in British English it is pronounced /splɪf/, and in American English it is pronounced /splɪf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to skin up a spliff (UK)”
- “to blow a spliff”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SPLit' + 'puff' = SPLIFF, something you split and puff on.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR LEISURE (The rolled object contains the experience of relaxation).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'spliff' be LEAST appropriate?