slipper

1 of 2

noun

slip·​per ˈsli-pər How to pronounce slipper (audio)
: a light low-cut shoe that is easily slipped on the foot
slippered
ˈsli-pərd How to pronounce slipper (audio)
adjective

slipper

2 of 2

adjective

chiefly dialectal
: slippery

Examples of slipper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
High-vamp flats, anywhere-but-the-bedroom slippers, and fashion sneakers are just a few of the season’s standout shoe trends—endorsed by both the runways (Conner Ives, Toteme, and Celine) and the street-style set. — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 The store now carries the brand’s full range of footwear including its original slipper, loafers, mules, suede and shearling footwear, and pajamas. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 Highlights of the production will include a lifelike puppet portraying Toto, eight dancers taking flight (the most of any KC Ballet production) and ruby slippers adorned with 288 jewels. — Dan Kelly october 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 Delta has also enhanced the sleep experience with a new mattress pad, memory foam cuddle pillow, slippers, and eye mask. — Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slipper

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

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.

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Phrases Containing slipper

Rhymes for slipper

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Browse Nearby Words

slipped wing
slipper
slipper animalcule
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Cite this Entry

“Slipper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slipper. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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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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