slacks

S1L1A1C3K5S1

noun

Semi-formal trousers which are less formal than those that are part of a suit but nowadays are considered suitable casualwear in most offices. (Takes a plural verb even when referring to a single pair; may be referred to as a pair of slacks.)

Less commonScrabble 12

Meanings

slacks1

noun
  1. pluralplural of slack
nounslacks pl (plural only, attributive slack)

attributive slack

  1. pluralplural onlySemi-formal trousers which are less formal than those that are part of a suit but nowadays are considered suitable casualwear in most offices. (Takes a plural verb even when referring to a single pair; may be referred to as a pair of slacks.)

    For a change, Selina was not in slacks, but in a simple dirndl and sandals.

    1961, Xavier Herbert, Soldiers' Women, Netley, SA: Fontana Books, published 1978, page 60
    2 more examples

    Discipline, that’s what we need. Discipline. How are we going to win the war without discipline? Do you know, sir, some of these fellows come on parade in slacks - so I’ve been told. Can’t expect to win a war that way. Slacks! My God!

    1941, Agatha Christie, N or M?

    Not five minutes later, Zooey, with his hair combed wet, stood wet, stood barefoot at the washbowl, wearing a pair of beltless dark-gray sharkskin slacks, a face towel across his bare shoulders.

    1957, J. D. Salinger, “Zooey”, in Franny and Zooey, published 1961
verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of slack

Slacks2

proper noun
  1. pluralplural of Slack

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

Translations

Arabic بِنْطال, بَنْطَلُون
  • بِنْطال (binṭāl)Semi-formal trousers not part of a suit
  • بَنْطَلُون (banṭalūn)Semi-formal trousers not part of a suit
  • بَنْطَلُونات (banṭalūnāt)Semi-formal trousers not part of a suit
  • سِرْوال (sirwāl)Semi-formal trousers not part of a suit
  • سَراوِيلُ (sarāwīlu)Semi-formal trousers not part of a suit
German Slacks
  • SlacksSemi-formal trousers not part of a suit
Irish bríste, treabhsar
  • brísteSemi-formal trousers not part of a suit
  • treabhsarSemi-formal trousers not part of a suit
Polish swobodne spodnie
  • swobodne spodnieSemi-formal trousers not part of a suit
Russian слаксы́
  • слаксы́ (slaksý)Semi-formal trousers not part of a suit
Cite this entry
APA

slacks. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slacks

MLA

“slacks.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slacks. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “slacks,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slacks.

Source: slacks on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.