slender

UK: /ˈslɛndə^r/ US: /ˈslɛndɚ/ ,(slen′dər)

Inflections of 'slender' (adj):

slenderer

adj comparative

slenderest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

slen•der /ˈslɛndɚ/   adj., -er, -est. 

1. having a distance around the middle that is small when compared to the height or length:
   a slender post.
2. thin or slight;
   light and graceful:
   slender youths.
3. small in size, amount, etc.;
   meager:
   a slender income.
4. having little value, force, or justification:
   The prospects for victory were slender.

slen•der•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

slen•der  (slen′dər), adj., -er, -est. 

1. having a circumference that is small in proportion to the height or length:
   a slender post.
2. thin or slight;
   light and graceful:
   slender youths.
3. small in size, amount, extent, etc.;
   meager:
   a slender income.
4. having little value, force, or justification:
   slender prospects.
5. thin or weak, as sound.

• ?
• Middle English slendre, sclendre 1300–50

slen′der•ly, adv. 
slen′der•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. Slender, slight, slim imply a tendency toward thinness. As applied to the human body,
  slender implies a generally attractive and pleasing thinness:
  slender hands.
  Slight often adds the idea of frailness to that of thinness:
  a slight, almost fragile, figure.
  Slim implies a lithe or delicate thinness:
  a slim and athletic figure.
• 4. trivial, trifling.
• 5. fragile, feeble, fine, delicate, flimsy.

Antonyms

• 2. fat, stocky.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

slender / ˈslɛndə/ adjective

1. of small width relative to length or height
2. (esp of a person's figure) slim and well-formed
3. small or inadequate in amount, size, etc: slender resources
4. (of hopes, etc) having little foundation; feeble
5. very small: a slender margin

Etymology: 14th Century slendre, of unknown origin

ˈslenderly adverb

ˈslenderness noun