noun / verb

slouch

SLOUCH/slaʊtʃ/

A loose drooping bodily posture.

The woman's slouch rounds her upper back and brings her head forward.

An older woman sits sideways on a simple chair with her pelvis slid forward, upper back rounded, shoulders drooping, and head hanging forward, making her slouch unmistakable.

Etymology

The earlier noun named a lazy or ungainly person and came to mean a drooping of the head and shoulders. The verb describes adopting that loose, stooped posture.

In context

Rachel's English27:00

You don’t want to slump back or slouch, that’s a bit too casual for a job interview.

English Job Interview Dos & Dont's! | English Conversation Practice

More examples

I tend to slouch when I work at my desk.
She slouched down the hall with her head lowered.
He straightens his back whenever he catches himself slouching.

Forms

slouch · slouches · slouched · slouching

Similar words

slump: Suggests sinking or collapsing into a drooping position.
hunch: Emphasizes rounding the back and drawing the shoulders forward.
stoop: Emphasizes bending the upper body forward or downward.