# slang

/ˈsɫæŋ/ (US) · /slˈæŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slang
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. informal language

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

very informal words and phrases that are more common in speech than in writing.

For teachers: informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's dialect or polite society.

- The teenagers used so much modern slang that their parents couldn't understand them.
- While slang often originates in subcultures, it frequently migrates into the general lexicon through social media and popular music.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the language style in general.

### 2. group-specific jargon

noun · CEFR B2

special words used by a particular group of people, like doctors or computer experts.

For teachers: the specialized vocabulary or jargon used by a particular profession, social group, or subculture.

- Medical slang allows doctors to communicate quickly during an emergency.
- The sailors had their own unique slang for different types of weather, which was largely unintelligible to those living inland.

### 4. to sell drugs

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · British English

to sell something, especially illegal drugs, on the street.

For teachers: to engage in the illicit sale of goods, particularly narcotics, within an urban or street context.

- The movie shows how young men were recruited to slang on the corner.
- The lyrics depict the harsh realities of those forced to slang in order to survive in neglected urban environments.

Usage: Transitive verb often used in Multicultural London English (MLE).

Teaching tip: This is a very specific, high-level slang term found in modern British urban dialects; learners should recognize it but avoid using it in most contexts.

## Examples

- He uses a lot of slang at school.
- The teacher asked the students to avoid slang in their essays.
- The rapid evolution of internet slang reflects how digital communication reshapes traditional linguistic boundaries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.