# slough

/ˈsɫəf/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. to shed skin

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to shed or drop an outer layer of skin, like a snake does.

For teachers: to cast off or shed a layer of dead tissue or skin. Often used in medical or biological contexts.

- As the snake grows, it will slough its old skin in one piece.
- The patient's damaged skin began to slough off as the new, healthy tissue formed underneath during the healing process.

Usage: Pronounced to rhyme with 'rough'.

### 2. to get rid of

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to get rid of something that is no longer wanted or is holding you back.

For teachers: to discard or cast off something considered undesirable or burdensome. Frequently used with the particle 'off'.

- She tried to slough off her bad mood and enjoy the party.
- The corporation attempted to slough off its less profitable subsidiaries to appease the increasingly restless shareholders.

Usage: Pronounced to rhyme with 'rough'.

### 3. to skip school

verb · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang · Informal

to stay away from school without permission.

For teachers: to commit truancy; to be absent from educational obligations without authorization.

- They decided to slough their afternoon classes and go to the beach instead.
- In certain Western regions, students might slough their responsibilities for a day of hiking when the weather turns unexpectedly warm.

Usage: Pronounced to rhyme with 'rough'.

### 4. a swampy area

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a soft, wet, and muddy piece of land.

For teachers: a place of deep mud or mire; a stagnant swamp or backwater.

- The hikers had to be careful not to get stuck in the deep slough.
- The heavy rains transformed the low-lying fields into a treacherous slough that was impassable for heavy machinery.

Usage: Pronounced to rhyme with 'now'.

### 5. a state of sadness

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a feeling of deep sadness or lack of hope that is hard to get out of.

For teachers: a state of moral or spiritual despondency or depression. Most famously used in the phrase 'slough of despond'.

- After losing his job, he fell into a deep slough of despair.
- The protagonist spends much of the second act wandering through a mental slough, unable to find the motivation to continue his quest.

Usage: Pronounced to rhyme with 'now'.

## Examples

- The snake will slough its skin as it grows larger.
- After years of corporate life, he decided to slough off his old identity and start a farm.
- The therapy sessions helped her slough off the deep-seated resentment she had carried since childhood, allowing her to approach new relationships with a sense of renewal.

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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.