What does slippery mean?
Slippery describes something that is difficult to grip or stand on because it is smooth, wet, oily, or unstable. The word is often used with surfaces such as roads, floors, paths, and rocks, especially when weather has made them dangerous. Figuratively, it describes people, arguments, situations, or promises that cannot be trusted or controlled securely. A slippery argument may sound plausible while deliberately avoiding an important question, and a slippery promise may depend on conditions that are unlikely to hold. The related phrase “slippery slope” names a situation in which one apparently minor decision could lead to a chain of increasingly serious consequences. Although the literal meaning is easy to understand, the figurative senses are especially useful because they suggest danger that is not immediately obvious.
adjectiveSlippery means difficult to grip or stand on because it is smooth, wet, oily, or otherwise unstable. Figuratively, it describes an argument, situation, or person that is unstable, misleading, or difficult to trust.
- Difficult to grip, hold, or walk on because of smoothness or instability.
- Figuratively, unstable, unreliable, or liable to change or go wrong.
- Figuratively, misleading or evasive, especially in an argument or explanation.
"The wet leaves made the path dangerously slippery, so she walked carefully and held on to the railing."
"The mountain trail became slippery after the rain."
"The minister's slippery answer did little to reassure the committee."
One small slick patch can turn a routine walk into a lesson in balance—and one slippery argument can turn a discussion into a fall.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slippery come from?
The word comes from Middle English and developed from the same root as “slip,” with forms such as “slipper” used for something that causes slipping or is inclined to slip. The family also includes related formations such as “slipstream” and the modern derivative “slipperiness.” The underlying Germanic root is associated with the movement of sliding or slipping, although its precise historical development is more certain than any single proposed cognate set.
Related word forms
How slippery is actually used
The adjective is used in both literal and figurative contexts. In figurative use, “slippery” often suggests an argument or explanation that avoids the central issue, or a situation whose outcome is uncertain. The phrase “slippery slope” has a somewhat specialized meaning in discussions of ethics and public policy, referring to a first step that is likely to lead to further, more extreme steps.
Easily confused with slippery
A slippery surface is smooth or difficult to grip, whereas a slimy surface is covered in a slippery, often viscous coating.
Slick can describe a smooth, slippery surface, but it can also mean highly skilful or plausibly presented, as in a slick explanation.