Slight: meaning, definitions and examples

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slight

 

[ slaɪt ]

Adjective / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

a slight difference

small in degree; inconsiderable

Synonyms

minor, modest, slender, small

Examples of usage

  • There is only a slight chance of rain today.
  • She gave a slight smile in response.
Context #2 | Noun

a slight of hand trick

a sleight of hand trick or deception

Synonyms

deception, manipulation, trickery

Examples of usage

  • The magician amazed the audience with his sleight of hand.
  • He used a slight of hand to distract the guards.

Translations

Translations of the word "slight" in other languages:

🇵🇹 leve

🇮🇳 हल्का

🇩🇪 leicht

🇮🇩 ringan

🇺🇦 легкий

🇵🇱 lekki

🇯🇵 軽い (かるい)

🇫🇷 léger

🇪🇸 ligero

🇹🇷 hafif

🇰🇷 가벼운

🇸🇦 خفيف

🇨🇿 lehký

🇸🇰 ľahký

🇨🇳 轻微的 (qīngwēi de)

🇸🇮 lahek

🇮🇸 léttur

🇰🇿 жеңіл

🇬🇪 მსუბუქი

🇦🇿 yüngül

🇲🇽 ligero

Etymology

The word 'slight' originated from the Middle English 'sliht', meaning 'smooth, slender'. It evolved from the Old English 'sliht' and Proto-Germanic 'slihtaz', ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sleig-, meaning 'to smooth, to glide'. The sense of 'small in degree' developed in the late 14th century.

See also: slightest, slightly, slightness, slights.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,082, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.