• enPR: slīt, IPA: /slaɪt/
• (America) IPA: [sl̥l͡ɐɪʔ̚]

slight (comparative slighter, superlative slightest)

1. Small
   1. gentle or weak, not aggressive or powerful

      give it a slight kick

      a slight hint of cinnamon

      a slight effort

      a slight (i.e. not convincing) argument

   2. not thorough; superficial

      make a slight examination

   3. inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.
      • 1741, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education & of the Conduct of the Understanding

        Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.

      • 1717, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: Printed by W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], OCLC 43265629 ↗, canto I:

        Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.

      we made a slight mistake

      a slight pain

   4. (archaic or rare) not far away in space or time

      in the slight future

   Synonyms: ignorable, meaningless, negligible, tiny, Thesaurus:tiny, Thesaurus:insignificant
2. of slender build

   a slight but graceful woman

   • 1822, Sir Walter Scott, Peveril of the Peak

     his own figure, which was formerly so slight

   Synonyms: lithe, svelte, willowy, Thesaurus:slender
3. (regional) Even, smooth or level; still (especially said of the sea).

   A slight stone

   The sea was slight and calm

   Synonyms: flat, glassy, slick, Thesaurus:smooth

4. (obsolete) Foolish; silly; weak in intellect.

   Synonyms: daft, fatuous, soft in the head, Thesaurus:foolish

5. (regional, obsolete) Bad, of poor quality.
   • 1889 (first published), George Washington, Writings

     we frequently have slight Goods and sometimes old and unsaleable Articles

   Synonyms: flimsy, lousy, shoddy, Thesaurus:low-quality
6. (dated) Slighting; treating with disdain.

   Synonyms: contemptuous, disdainful, scornful, Thesaurus:disdainful

• essencial
• important
• radical
• significant

• French: insignifiant, léger
• German: geringfügig, leicht, gering, unbedeutend, wenig, schlank, schwach
• Italian: insignificante, leggero, debole, lieve
• Portuguese: insignificante, ligeiro, leve
• Russian: незначи́тельный
• Spanish: insignificante, leve, ligero

slight (slights, present participle slighting; past and past participle slighted)

1. (transitive) To treat as slight or not worthy of attention; to make light of.

   • the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies

2. (transitive) To give lesser weight or importance to.
   • 1915, Correct English (volumes 16-17, page 182)

     Incontiguously (accent on tig; the rest of the syllables slighted) means in an incontiguous manner.

   Synonyms: belittle
   Antonyms: respect, value, esteem
3. (transitive) To treat with disdain or neglect, usually out of prejudice, hatred, or jealousy; to ignore disrespectfully.

   Synonyms: contemn, despise

   Antonyms: respect, honor

4. (intransitive) To act negligently or carelessly.
5. (transitive, military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.
6. (transitive) To make even or level.
7. (transitive) To throw heedlessly.
   • c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The Merry VViues of VVindsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene v]:

     The rogue slighted me into the river.

• German: vernachlässigen, kränken, zurücksetzen, beleidigen, abschätzig behandeln
• Italian: disprezzare

• Italian: sminuire

slight (plural slights)

1. The act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.

   Synonyms: ignoring, neglect, belittlement

   Antonyms: respect

   • Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.

2. (obsolete) Sleight.

• German: Geringschätzung, Kränkung, Herabschätzung, Beleidigung
• Spanish: falta de respeto