slipper

1 of 2

adjective

slip·​per ˈsli-pər How to pronounce slipper (audio)
chiefly dialectal

slipper

2 of 2

noun

: a light low-cut shoe that is easily slipped on the foot
slippered adjective

Examples of slipper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
These slipper mules are constructed from a soft suede material and feature ultra-soft sheepskin interiors to keep soles comfortable and cozy. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 4 Feb. 2024 These slipper socks, designed with meticulous attention to both style and utility, are your go-to option for ultimate relaxation. Priscilla Mak, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2023 These slipper socks are easy to pack in a suitcase — or even in a purse — to provide extra comfort on an overnight flight. Annie Gabillet, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2023 Although the skirt and slipper boot combo is certainly an unusual one, the pieces provide a nice, slouchy contrast to the more structured layers up top. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2023 Read more: Best Slides Nordstrom is home to some of the coziest sleepwear, and its slipper selection is a natural extension. Elizabeth Djinis, SELF, 4 Aug. 2023 Frequently Asked Questions What is the best slipper brand? Barbara Bellesi Zito, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2023 Try the OOcoozie Low slipper-style shoes. Outside Online, 2 May 2022 Plus, the slipper style is an elevated look compared to traditional reading chairs that require an ottoman for leg support. Addie Morton, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2023
Noun
These unique shoes are great for walking, running errands, and lounging around in like slippers. Kristine Thomason, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 After a 10-minute or so wait, the sound of slippers scraping the floor breaks the quiet, never sounding more ominous to me than when French walks down his hallway and turns the corner into the living room. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2024 And if your style is a little more flouncy, this velvet pair of fuzzy slippers topped off with a playful fluff ball, will bring out your inner diva. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 Just the creak-clank, creak-clank of her walker and the echoing claps of our house slippers on the tile floors. Frank Shyong, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024 Yesterday, my husband and I went to a department store to buy a pair of slippers for him. Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024 Many of Temu’s items are at unbelievable prices, with a 35-cent phone case, a lingerie set for $4.49, and cozy house slippers for $1.59. Drew Bernstein, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 The style options are endless — from cozy Ugg slippers to flirty velvet slides. Olivia Muenter, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 And because good things come in threes, the brand also has the Gemma slippers 25 percent off. Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slipper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English slipir, sliper "causing something to slide or slip, deceitful," going back to Old English slipor, sliper, going back to Germanic *slip-ra- (whence also Old High German sleffar "sloping downward"), adjective derivative from the base of Germanic *sleipan- (strong verb) "to slide, slip" (whence Middle Dutch slīpen "to smooth, polish, sharpen," Middle Low German, "to glide, sink, slip," Old High German slīfan "to slide, pass away, decline"), of uncertain origin

Note: The adjective slipper has been effectively replaced by its derivative slippery, though the former was in existence in dialect late enough to be noticed by the Survey of English Dialects, which recorded it in Devon and Cornwall (see Survey of English Dialects: The Dictionary and Grammar, Routledge, 1994, s.v.). — The Germanic verb has been compared with Greek olibrón, glossed by Hesychius with olisthērón "slippery," though the assumption of an Indo-European etymon *h3slib-ro-, with both *b and a laryngeal preceding a sibilant, seems questionable. Parallel to *sleipan- is a verb *sleupan- "to creep, glide," which has been explained as a secondary formation based on near-synonymous *sleuban- (see slip entry 5, sleeve). As all these bases are ultimately of phonesthemic origin and can presumably be reshaped by variation of phonesthemic origin, it is difficult to disentangle inheritance from innovation. Compare slip entry 1.

Noun

Middle English slypper, from slippen "to slip entry 1" + -er -er entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slipper was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near slipper

Cite this Entry

“Slipper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slipper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

slipper

noun
slip·​per
ˈslip-ər
: a light low shoe without laces that is easily slipped on or off
slippered
-ərd
adjective

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