Slice-of-life Definition & Meaning

Definition

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms slice-of-life American [slahys-uhv-lahyf] / ˈslaɪs əvˈlaɪf /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or being a naturalistic, unembellished representation of real life.

   a play with slice-of-life dialogue.

Etymology

Origin of slice-of-life

1890–95; attributive use of slice of life, translation of French tranche de vie, allegedly coined by dramatist Jean Jullien (1854–1919)

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.

Years before How to With John Wilson premiered on the same provider, the titular documentarian developed his distinct slice-of-life observational style through Vimeo-uploaded clips.

From Slate

British vloggers Dan Howell and Phil Lester — known for their gaming and comedic slice-of-life style videos — are taking ownership of their long-rumored romance after more than a decade of incessant fan “shipping” online.

From Los Angeles Times

That interest is clear as Dyer takes in the humdrum slice-of-life shuffling about at a yawn’s pace from the waiting area on our recent field trip.

From Los Angeles Times

She was soft and complex in Leigh’s sensitive slice-of-life films, supplying the nuance necessary to perform Leigh’s dialogue with the right amount of recognizable benevolence.

From Salon

For someone unfamiliar with “Haikyu!!,” the anime adaptation of a slice-of-life manga about a high school volleyball team, the premise may seem a bit niche.

From New York Times

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.