Synonyms

slattern

American

[slat-ern] / ˈslæt ərn /

noun

a slovenly, untidy woman or girl.
a slut; harlot.

slattern British

/ ˈslætən /

noun

a slovenly woman or girl; slut

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

slatternliness noun
slatternly adjective

Etymology

Origin of slattern

First recorded in 1630–40; perhaps akin to dial. slatter to splash, spill < ?

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In this respect she had always been in strong contrast to her cousins, who, in spite of their taste for pronounced colours, were utter slatterns.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the unknown makes strange associates, attracts men to ugly women, slatterns to dandies.

From Project Gutenberg

She could conceive of no more inspiring spot for a poet, but she sighed again as she thought of the slatterns that miscared for him.

From Project Gutenberg

These were slatterns, not wholly lacking in a certain comeliness, and eyed the visitors with shy curiosity.

From Project Gutenberg

"I can't stand slatterns, and you must cut loose from her once for all."

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023