Slack vs. Lack — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 28, 2024
Slack often refers to a looseness or a deficit in tension, whereas lack denotes an absence or deficiency of something.
Difference Between Slack and Lack
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Key Differences
Slack is primarily used to describe something that is not taut or is loosely hanging, such as slack in a rope. Whereas, lack refers to the state of being without something necessary or desirable, such as lacking essential nutrients.
In business terminology, slack can also mean a period of slow business activity or underperformance. On the other hand, lack is used to describe a scenario where there is an insufficient amount of resources or qualities, like a lack of funds.
The word slack can be used as a noun, adjective, or verb, indicating loose conditions or the act of slacking. Whereas, lack is primarily used as a noun and verb, focused on the absence or shortage of something.
Slack may also imply a certain leeway or flexibility allowed in a situation, as in time slack in a project schedule. Whereas, lack implies a shortfall that can lead to difficulties or challenges, such as a lack of communication leading to misunderstandings.
In technology, Slack is known as a popular team communication tool. Whereas, lack does not have a technological connotation but is a general term used across various contexts to signify missing elements.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Looseness or lack of tension; underperformance
Absence or deficiency of something
Usage as Part of Speech
Noun, adjective, verb
Noun, verb
Example in Business
Slow business period; flexibility in project schedule
Insufficient resources; missing necessary components
Technological Connotation
Name of a communication tool
No specific technological use
Implication
Often implies excess or surplus; flexibility
Shortfall leading to potential problems or challenges
Compare with Definitions
Slack
Excess material in a rope.
The rope has too much slack, making it unsafe to climb.
Lack
To be deficient in.
He lacks the critical thinking skills necessary for the job.
Slack
A period of low activity.
The team noticed slack in sales during the winter months.
Lack
To miss or need.
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Slack
Not tight, loose.
He wore his pants slack, which made him look untidy.
Lack
Absence of sufficient quantity.
The project failed due to a lack of interest.
Slack
To decrease pace or intensity.
She decided to slack off after a week of intense work.
Lack
The state of being without.
There is a lack of evidence to support the claim.
Slack
Software for team communication.
We use Slack for daily communications within our team.
Lack
Shortage.
The city faced a lack of clean water after the storm.
Slack
Not taut or held tightly in position; loose
A slack rope
Her mouth went slack
Lack
Deficiency or absence
Lack of funding brought the project to a halt.
Slack
(of business or trade) characterized by a lack of work or activity; quiet
Business was rather slack
Lack
A particular deficiency or absence
Owing to a lack of supporters, the reforms did not succeed.
Slack
Having or showing laziness or negligence
Slack accounting procedures
Lack
To be without or in need of
Lacked the strength to lift the box.
Slack
Lewd
The veteran king of slack chat
Lack
To be missing or deficient
We suspected that he was lying, but proof was lacking.
Slack
(of a tide) neither ebbing nor flowing
Soon the water will become slack, and the tide will turn
Slack tides
Lack
To be in need of something
She does not lack for friends.
Slack
The part of a rope or line which is not held taut; the loose or unused part
I picked up the rod and wound in the slack
Lack
A deficiency or need (of something desirable or necessary); an absence, want.
Slack
Casual trousers
He put on a grey shirt and loose cotton slacks
Lack
(obsolete) A defect or failing; moral or spiritual degeneracy.
Slack
A spell of inactivity or laziness
He slept deeply, refreshed by a little slack in the daily routine
Lack
(transitive) To be without, to need, to require.
My life lacks excitement.
Slack
Coal dust or small pieces of coal
The fire was stoked with a mixture of slack and cement
Lack
(intransitive) To be short (of or for something).
He'll never lack for company while he's got all that money.
Slack
Loosen (something, especially a rope)
Slacking the outhaul allows you to adjust the sail
Lack
To be in want.
Slack
Work slowly or lazily
She ticked off her girls if they were slacking
Lack
(obsolete) To see the deficiency in (someone or something); to find fault with, to malign, reproach.
Slack
Slake (lime)
150 sacks of lime were slacked by the inrushing water
Lack
Blame; cause of blame; fault; crime; offense.
Slack
Not tense or taut; loose
A slack rope.
Slack muscles.
Lack
To blame; to find fault with.
Love them and lakke them not.
Slack
Lacking in activity; not busy
A slack season for the travel business.
Lack
To be without or destitute of; to want; to need.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.
Slack
Moving slowly; sluggish
A slack pace.
Lack
To be wanting; often, impersonally, with of, meaning, to be less than, short, not quite, etc.
What hour now?I think it lacks of twelve.
Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty.
Slack
Lacking in diligence or due care or concern; negligent
A slack worker.
Lack
To be in want.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger.
Slack
Flowing or blowing with little speed
A slack current.
Slack winds.
Lack
Exclamation of regret or surprise.
Slack
(Linguistics) Pronounced with the muscles of the tongue and jaw relatively relaxed; lax.
Lack
The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable;
There is a serious lack of insight into the problem
Water is the critical deficiency in desert regions
For want of a nail the shoe was lost
Slack
To make looser or less taut
Slacked the sail.
Lack
Be without;
This soup lacks salt
There is something missing in my jewellery box!
Slack
To make slower
Slacked our pace.
Slack
To be careless or remiss in doing
Slack one's duty.
Slack
To slake (lime).
Slack
To be or become slack.
Slack
To be inactive or avoid work
Slacked around the house all day.
Slack
A loose part, as of a rope or sail
Hauled in the slack.
Slack
A period of little activity; a lull
A slack in business.
Slack
A cessation of movement in a current of air or water.
Slack
An area of still water.
Slack
Unused capacity
Still some slack in the economy.
Slack
Slacks Casual pants that are not part of a suit.
Slack
A mixture of coal fragments, coal dust, and dirt that remains after screening coal.
Slack
A small dell or hollow.
Slack
A bog; a morass.
Slack
In a slack manner
A banner hanging slack.
Slack
(uncountable) The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it.
The slack of a rope or of a sail
Take in the slack
Slack
(countable) A tidal marsh or shallow that periodically fills and drains.
Slack
Unconditional listening attention given by client to patient.
Slack
(rail) A temporary speed restriction where track maintenance or engineering work is being carried out at a particular place.
Slack
(countable) A valley, or small, shallow dell.
Slack
(mining) Small coal; coal dust.
Slack
(normally said of a rope) Lax; not tense; not firmly extended.
A slack rope
Slack
Weak; not holding fast.
A slack hand
Slack
Moderate in some capacity.
Slack
Moderately warm.
A slack oven
Slack
Moderate in speed.
A slack wind
Slack
Lacking diligence or care; not earnest or eager.
Slack in duty or service
Slack
Not active or busy, successful, or violent.
Business is slack.
Slack
Excess; surplus to requirements.
The slack capacity of an oil pipeline
Slack
(linguistics) Lax.
Slack
Slackly.
Slack dried hops
Slack
To slacken.
Slack
(obsolete) To mitigate; to reduce the strength of.
Slack
To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake.
Lime slacks.
Slack
Small coal; also, coal dust; culm.
Slack
A valley, or small, shallow dell.
Slack
The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it; as, the slack of a rope or of a sail.
Slack
Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly extended; as, a slack rope.
Slack
Weak; not holding fast; as, a slack hand.
Slack
Remiss; backward; not using due diligence or care; not earnest or eager; as, slack in duty or service.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness.
Slack
Not violent, rapid, or pressing; slow; moderate; easy; as, business is slack.
C sar . . . about sunset, hoisting sail with a slack southwest, at midnight was becalmed.
Slack
Slackly; as, slack dried hops.
Slack
To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather.
Slack
To be remiss or backward; to be negligent.
Slack
To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake; as, lime slacks.
Slack
To abate; to become less violent.
Whence these raging firesWill slacken, if his breath stir not their flames.
Slack
To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as, a current of water slackens.
Slack
To languish; to fail; to flag.
Slack
To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage.
Slack
To neglect; to be remiss in.
Slack not the pressage.
Slack
To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake; as, to slack lime.
Slack
To cause to become less eager; to repress; to make slow or less rapid; to retard; as, to slacken pursuit; to slacken industry.
I should be grieved, young prince, to think my presenceUnbent your thoughts, and slackened 'em to arms.
In this business of growing rich, poor men should slack their pace.
With such delayWell plased, they slack their course.
Slack
To cause to become less intense; to mitigate; to abate; to ease.
To respite, or deceive, or slack thy painOf this ill mansion.
Slack
Dust consisting of a mixture of small coal fragments and coal dust and dirt that sifts out when coal is passed over a sieve
Slack
A noticeable deterioration in performance or quality;
The team went into a slump
A gradual slack in output
A drop-off in attendance
A falloff in quality
Slack
A stretch of water without current or movement;
Suddenly they were in slack water
Slack
The condition of being loose (not taut);
He hadn't counted on the slackness of the rope
Slack
A cord or rope or cable that is hanging loosely;
He took up the slack
Slack
Avoid responsibilities and work, be idle
Slack
Be inattentive to, or neglect;
He slacks his attention
Slack
Release tension on;
Slack the rope
Slack
Make less active or fast;
He slackened his pace as he got tired
Don't relax your efforts now
Slack
Become slow or slower;
Production slowed
Slack
Make less active or intense
Slack
Become less in amount or intensity;
The storm abated
The rain let up after a few hours
Slack
Cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water;
Slack lime
Slack
Not tense or taut;
The old man's skin hung loose and gray
Slack and wrinkled skin
Slack sails
A slack rope
Slack
Lacking in strength or firmness or resilience;
Flaccid muscles
Took his lax hand in hers
Gave a limp handshake
A limp gesture as if waving away all desire to know
A slack grip
Slack
Flowing with little speed as e.g. at the turning of the tide;
Slack water
Slack
Lacking in rigor or strictness;
Such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable
Lax in attending classes
Slack in maintaining discipline
Common Curiosities
How can "lack" impact performance?
A lack of necessary resources or qualities can hinder performance and outcomes.
How is "slack" used in a workplace setting?
It can refer to a period of low activity or underperformance.
Can "slack" be a positive term?
Yes, when referring to flexibility or necessary downtime.
What does "slack" mean in a physical context?
It refers to something that is loosely hanging or not tightly fastened.
What does "lack" imply in professional contexts?
It usually points to a deficiency in resources or qualities needed for success.
What are common synonyms for "slack"?
Loose, lax, slacken.
How does one manage "slack" in project management?
By adjusting schedules and resources to ensure optimal use of time and effort.
Can "lack" ever be temporary?
Yes, depending on the context, the absence or deficiency can be addressed or resolved.
Is "slack" used differently in technology?
Yes, it is also the name of a popular communication tool for teams.
What are common synonyms for "lack"?
Deficiency, shortage, absence.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
