What does slighted mean?
“Slighted” means that someone has been insulted, offended, or treated as unimportant. The word commonly appears in expressions such as “feel slighted” and describes the emotional result of being overlooked, rejected, or denied proper recognition. For example, a person may feel slighted if a colleague's contribution is ignored or if a formal acknowledgment goes to someone else. The word carries a relatively formal, restrained tone and emphasizes a perceived failure of respect rather than a direct verbal insult. Its historical connection with the idea of being regarded as small or insignificant helps explain its present sense. “Slighted” is the past tense and past participle of the verb “slight,” and is often used to describe a person's reaction to an event rather than the event itself.
verbTo insult, offend, or show disrespect for someone, especially by overlooking them or treating their achievements as unimportant.
- To insult, offend, or show disrespect for someone, especially by overlooking them or treating them as unimportant.
"She felt slighted when the committee failed to acknowledge her contribution."
"He was clearly slighted when his name was omitted from the list of contributors."
"The response was intended to reassure her, but it left her feeling slighted."
To feel slighted is to feel that someone has treated your worth as though it were unimportant.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slighted come from?
The modern verb derives from the English word “slight,” whose older senses included “small,” “minor,” and “insignificant.” Over time, the verb developed the meaning “to treat as insignificant,” which led to the modern sense of insulting or disrespecting someone. The precise origin of the older English word is uncertain, so no specific cognate can be stated with confidence.
Related word forms
How slighted is actually used
“Slighted” usually describes a feeling of offense caused by a perceived insult, rejection, or failure to recognize someone's importance. It is more common in formal and carefully worded contexts than in casual speech.
Easily confused with slighted
“Slighted” is the past tense and past participle of “slight,” meaning to insult or disrespect someone, while “slight” can also mean small, minor, or insignificant.