What does slew mean?
Slew is an unusual word with two established meanings. As a noun, it means a large number of people or things and is nearly always used in the phrase “a slew of,” as in “a slew of questions.” The expression sounds informal and conveys a degree of abundance that may feel somewhat overwhelming. As a verb, slew is the past tense and past participle of “slay,” meaning to kill someone, usually violently. This sense now has a literary, historical, or archaic character, although it remains readily recognizable. The two senses differ sharply in tone: the noun is colloquial and expansive, while the verb is solemn and violent. Together, they make slew especially memorable, since the same word can evoke both devastation on an individual scale and an abundance of things.
A large number of people or things.
"The new policy generated a slew of practical difficulties."
Informal and nearly always used in the construction “a slew of.”
To kill someone, especially violently; the past tense and past participle of slay.
"The knight slew his enemy in single combat."
Chiefly literary, historical, or archaic in contemporary English.
The plural is rare because the noun is usually used in the fixed construction “a slew of.”
"The archive contains slews of previously unpublished photographs."
One little word carries two strikingly different ideas: violent killing and an overwhelming abundance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slew come from?
The verb continues the Old English verb slēan, “to kill,” through the form slew, its Old English past singular and past participle; the modern present form is slay. Its Germanic relatives include German schlagen and Dutch slaan, which developed meanings involving striking, fighting, or defeating. The noun meaning “a large number” entered English in the 19th century, but its precise origin is uncertain; it became established in English through the expression “a slew of.”
Related word forms
How slew is actually used
The noun is informal and usually appears in the construction “a slew of”; it is especially common in American English. The verb is literary or archaic, whereas the present tense “slay” is more common in modern usage.