What does slight mean?
Slight means small in degree, amount, or importance, as in a slight difference or a slight delay. It can also describe a person of small or slender build, and, in older or more literary English, it functions as a verb meaning to insult or treat with disrespect. The word is useful because it distinguishes a modest amount or degree from something entirely negligible: a slight mistake can still be a mistake, and a slight delay can matter in certain circumstances. In everyday usage, slight is usually neutral, though it can sometimes imply that the subject is less important or less serious than it might otherwise appear. Its related adverb, slightly, is especially common in measured descriptions such as slightly warmer, slightly different, and slightly embarrassed.
Small in degree, amount, or importance; not strong, intense, or noticeable.
"The two accounts show only a slight variation."
Common in neutral and formal English; it can imply something is minor or comparatively unimportant.
To insult, ignore, or treat with disrespect.
"His speech seemed to slight the concerns of rural workers."
Literary and relatively uncommon; more typical in formal or archaic writing.
A slight difference can change the meaning of an argument: one small assumption may support an entirely different conclusion.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slight come from?
The word comes through Middle English from an Old English adjective meaning insignificant, slight, or slender. Its deeper origin is Germanic, and it is cognate with modern German leicht and Dutch licht, although the meanings have shifted differently over time. The rare verb meaning to insult is also old, deriving from the idea of treating someone lightly or with contempt.
Related word forms
How slight is actually used
Slight is common in neutral and formal English. It can suggest that something is minor or unimportant, but it may also mean merely small rather than insignificant. The verb is literary and relatively uncommon.
Easily confused with slight
Slight describes something small in degree or importance, whereas slim primarily describes a person who is thin or slender.
Light can mean of low weight or lacking heaviness, while slight usually indicates a small amount or degree.