“very informal words and expressions that are more common in spoken language, especially used by a particular group of people, for example, children, criminals, soldiers, etc.”
("Slang." Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/slang. Accessed 6 Sept. 2022.)
Informal Definition:
Slang are words and phrases an informal language it can be used in your social group. An example of a shortened slang word would be ‘Y’ which is the shortened version of ‘Why’. Another example of a slang phrase would be ‘tea’ which means ‘gossip’.
Etymology:
"Popularized in English during the mid-18th century, “slang” referred specifically to the lexicon of tramps and thieves. It is most likely Nordic in origin, derived from the old phrase slengja kjeften, which literally meant “to sling the jaw,” but which carried the implication “to abuse with words."
(Zafarris, Jess. "The (Real) Etymology of 'Slang.'" Useless Etymology, uselessetymology.com/2018/06/25/the-real-etymology-of-slang/. Accessed 6 Sept. 2022.)
Amanda T