What does slank mean?
Slank means to recline or lie in a relaxed, unconstrained manner, often in a way that suggests laziness, comfort, or deliberate informality. It can also describe moving or walking with a loose, unhurried gait. A person might slank against a wall, slank down onto a sofa, or move through a room in a casual, effortless way. The verb has a lightly literary, informal tone and often carries the sense that someone is making themselves comfortable without concern for conventional posture or urgency. Although similar in sound to words such as clank and flank, slank is unrelated in meaning to those words. Its unusual sound and distinctive implication of languid relaxation make it especially useful for vivid descriptive writing.
verbTo lie down or recline in a relaxed or lazy manner. It can also mean to move or walk in a loose, unhurried way.
- To lie down or recline in a relaxed or lazy manner.
- To move or walk in a loose, casual, unhurried manner.
"She slanked against the warm brick wall as she waited for her friends."
"He slanked on the grass and stared up at the clouds."
"The dancers slanked casually onto the stage."
To slank is to settle into a relaxed posture without any concern for formality or effort.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slank come from?
The origin of slank is uncertain. The word is attested in English before the modern period, and its development is connected with older forms meaning to lie or move in a relaxed manner, but its precise origin cannot be stated confidently. Its unusual history and long-standing literary use make it more distinctive than many common verbs.
Related word forms
How slank is actually used
Informal and somewhat literary. The word often conveys deliberate comfort, looseness, or lack of formality and is less common in formal or neutral speech.