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
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
Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
The album's success propelled Boone to new heights, including a Grammy nomination and a slate of high-level performances.
—Grace Harrington, People.com, 27 May 2025
Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2025
Clark is slated to miss at least two weeks with a right quad injury.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The company has recently launched or announced several destination venues in cities including Las Vegas, Miami, and Orlando, alongside its growing slate of global music festivals.
—Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
The album's success propelled Boone to new heights, including a Grammy nomination and a slate of high-level performances.
—Grace Harrington, People.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
The south tower, slated to finish in late April, will have an ICCU branch with a drive-through and several floors of office space.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2025
Clark is slated to miss at least two weeks with a right quad injury.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slate
Cite this Entry
“Slate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slate. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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
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