Sleight is a noun that can refer either to a deceitful kind of craftiness, or to skill and dexterity. It is typically found in the phrase "sleight of hand," or variations on that phrase (as in "sleight of pen").

SLEIGHT definition: skill; dexterity. See examples of sleight used in a sentence.

sleight (slaɪt) n. 1. skill; dexterity. 2. an artifice; stratagem. 3. cunning; craft.

A bit of élan and sleight of hand and perhaps just a twist of snobbery and insincere flattery wouldn't go amiss.

There are ten meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun sleight, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Jul 15, 2025 · sleight (countable and uncountable, plural sleights) Cunning; craft; artful practice. If men have so many sleights to compass their matters, how can the compasser himself hold his fingers? …

Slight, whether as an adjective or a verb, often denotes something minor or a form of disregard. Sleight, in contrast, pertains to dexterity or trickery, closely associated with skillful manipulation. …

Slight and sleight sound the same, but things that are slight are little and light, and sleight means slyness or sneakiness. Slight is usually an adjective that describes things that are small, flimsy, or …

Definition of sleight. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.

noun A clever or skillful trick or deception; an artifice or stratagem. from The Century Dictionary. Deceitful; artful. noun Cunning; craft; subtlety. noun Skill; dexterity; cleverness. noun Art; …