adj
slack
slak
adj
1
Loose; not pulled tight.
"The rope went slack once he let go of it."
"Check that the safety harness isn't too slack."
2
Not busy or active.
"Business has been slack since the holidays ended."
3
Careless or lacking effort.
"He's been a bit slack with his homework lately."
noun
1
The loose or unused part of something, especially a rope.
"Take up the slack in the line before you pull."
verb
1
To reduce effort or avoid work.
"He's been slacking off at work since the promotion fell through."
How to Use Slack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLoose, not tight — or, describing a person, not putting in enough effort.
Common pairings
take up the slack
slack off
cut someone some slack
Word Forms
slacker comparative, slacked past tense, slacks plural, slacks plural, Slacks plural, slacks singular, slackest superlative
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Etymology
From Old English slæc ("slack, lazy"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning loose or slow.