Slay/sleɪ/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Historical Tales Slay often appears in stories with knights, battles, or mythical creatures. In legends, heroes slay monsters to save kingdoms. Pro Tip 2/3Not for People Using 'slay' for real-life violence is outdated and insensitive. In news, use 'kill' not 'slay' for crime reports. Pro Tip 3/3Literal Use Slay means to kill in a forceful, violent manner. The fantasy novel described how the warrior slayed the ogre.