Slang
/slæŋ/noun
Informal, nonstandard vocabulary used by a particular group or culture.
Did you know?The exact origin is uncertain, but *slang* appears in the 18th century and was quickly tied to criminal and low-life speech, turning “secret talk” into a mainstream label.
Etymological Timeline
18th Century
English
slang
“Informal speech; later, the vocabulary of a particular group, especially criminal or low-class speech.”
17th–18th Century
English
slanguage
“An early colloquial form sometimes used for rough, low, or specialized speech.”
Unknown
English
slang
“Possibly connected to the idea of “to sling” or “to move quickly,” though this remains uncertain and disputed.”
Modern English
English
slang
“A body of informal words and expressions used in casual or group speech.”