Slavic

American  

[slah-vik, slav-ik] / ˈslɑ vɪk, ˈslæv ɪk /

noun

1. a branch of the Indo-European family of languages, usually divided into East Slavic (Russian, Ukrainian, Byelorussian), West Slavic (Polish, Czech, Slovak, Sorbian), and South Slavic (Old Church Slavonic, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Serbo-Croatian, Slovenian). Slav, Slav.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Slavs or their languages.

Slavic British  

/ ˈslɑːvɪk /

noun

1. another word (esp US) for Slavonic

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Other Word Forms

• anti-Slavic
  adjective
• non-Slavic
  adjective
• pro-Slavic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Slavic

First recorded in 1805–15; Slav + -ic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Slavic

The exodus and the ageing of the ethnic Slavic population -- many descendants of people forcibly resettled there in the Soviet era -- and the lack of economic prospects are all driving the internal migration.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, for example, Slavic and Austro-Hungarian influences show up in smoked meats, dumplings, and fermented flavors.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026

Mr. Morson, a professor of Slavic languages and literatures at Northwestern University, is the author of “Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 15, 2025

Prof Heather wants to use it to investigate what he describes as one of European history's biggest mysteries: why central and eastern Europe changed from being Germanic speaking to Slavic speaking, 1,500 years ago.

From BBC ● Jan. 1, 2025

A man strode by in a pristine white coat and high fur cap, like a hero from a Slavic fairy tale.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros