# SLO

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slo
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. computing performance goal

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for Service-Level Objective. It is a specific goal for how well a technical service should work, like being available 99.9% of the time.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Service-Level Objective. A target level for a specific reliability metric, such as uptime or latency, within a Service Level Agreement (SLA).

- The engineering team set an SLO of 99.9% availability for the new website.
- If the system latency exceeds the defined SLO, the site reliability engineers must prioritize stability over new feature development.

Usage: Usually functions as a countable noun in technical documentation.

### 3. California city

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

A common short name for the city of San Luis Obispo in California.

For teachers: Acronym for San Luis Obispo. A common toponymic abbreviation used by residents and in regional marketing.

- We spent the weekend hiking in SLO and visiting the local vineyards.
- The university is a major employer in SLO, significantly influencing the local economy and culture.

Usage: Pronounced as a single word /sloʊ/, identical to the word 'slow'.

## Examples

- Our team set an SLO of 99.9% uptime for the website.
- The engineering team monitors the SLO daily to ensure the application remains reliable for all global users.
- Defining a realistic SLO requires balancing the user's need for high availability against the engineering cost of maintaining such a rigorous standard.

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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.