Slash means to cut or strike with a sweeping, forceful motion, usually with something sharp. A pirate might slash at ropes with a cutlass, or a machete might slash through jungle vines. The word captures the swift, powerful arc of the cutting motion, not a careful, precise cut.

In writing, a slash is the diagonal line (/) used to separate words or show alternatives. When you write “and/or,” you're using a slash to show both options work. Web addresses use slashes to organize information: the slash in “website.com/games” separates different parts of the address.

The word also describes reducing something dramatically. When a store slashes prices, they cut them way down, often by half or more. A company might slash its budget, or a film editor might slash unnecessary scenes from a movie.

In hockey, slashing is a penalty: when a player swings their stick at an opponent instead of the puck, they're breaking the rules. This dangerous move can injure other players.

You might encounter slash in older adventure stories, where heroes slash their way through danger, or in modern business news, where companies slash costs during hard times.