1
: a piece of construction material (such as laminated rock) prepared as a shingle for roofing and siding
2
: a dense fine-grained metamorphic rock produced by the compression of various sediments (such as clay or shale) so as to develop a characteristic cleavage
3
: a tablet (as of slate) used for writing on
4
a
: a written or unwritten record (as of deeds)
started with a clean slate
b
: a list of candidates for nomination or election
5
a
: a dark purplish gray
b
: any of various grays similar in color to common roofing slates
slate
adjective
slated; slating
1
: to cover (something) with slate or a slatelike substance
slate a roof
2
: to designate (someone or something) for a specified purpose or action occurring especially at a fixed time
was slated to direct the play
The new model is slated [=scheduled] for release early next year.
slated; slating
1
: to thrash or pummel severely
2
chiefly British
: to criticize or censure severely
Synonyms
Verb (1)
Verb (2)
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- buffet
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lather
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
- work over
Examples of slate in a Sentence
Noun
Some school blackboards are made of slate.
The house has a slate roof.
Verb (1)
you've been slated for a three o'clock interview
Verb (2)
ready to slate anyone who disagreed
Recent Examples on the Web
Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Nov. 2024
The winning Presidential candidate's slate of potential electors is appointed as the state's electors.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz were both slated to speak in Michigan later Tuesday.
—John Wisely, Detroit Free Press, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for slate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The Noblesville Teachers Forum endorsed the slate of incumbent Christi Crosser, incumbent Stephanie Lambert and newcomer Bret Richardson.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Nov. 2024
The winning Presidential candidate's slate of potential electors is appointed as the state's electors.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
The outdoor gear store with a cult-like fanbase is slated to open its doors on Nov. 8.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz were both slated to speak in Michigan later Tuesday.
—John Wisely, Detroit Free Press, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for slate
Dictionary Entries Near slate
Cite this Entry
“Slate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slate. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
slate
1 of 2 noun1
: a piece of construction material (as layered rock) prepared as a shingle for roofing and siding
2
: a dense fine-grained rock formed by compression of shales or other rocks that splits readily into thin layers or plates
3
: a tablet of material (as slate) used for writing on
4
a
: a written or unwritten record (as of deeds)
started with a clean slate
b
: a list of candidates for nomination or election
5
a
: a dark purplish gray
b
: a gray similar in color to common roofing slate
slate
adjective
slate
2 of 2 verb
slated; slating
1
: to cover with slate or a slatelike substance
slate a roof
2
: to register or schedule for a special purpose or action
slate a meeting
slater
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share