slapdash

Slapdash is an English adjective describing actions or work performed in a hasty and careless manner, often resulting in low quality. It is commonly used to criticize methods, decisions, or results that are rushed or improvised rather than carefully planned. The term is also used as a noun in occasional expressions and, less commonly, as an adverb in humorous or archaic contexts.

Origin and etymology are not precisely documented, but the term is believed to have emerged in the early modern period. It combines the sense of slapping or striking quickly with a dash or rush, conveying abrupt, impulsive effort. Older spellings include slap-dash or hyphenated forms such as slap-dash.

Usage notes: slapdash often implies negligence, carelessness, or a lack of thoroughness, and it is usually pejorative. It can describe tasks, workmanship, writing, or decisions. Examples include "a slapdash renovation," "a slapdash report," or "a slapdash attempt at solving the problem." In formal writing, substitutes such as hasty or careless are common.

See also: careless, sloppy, shoddy, hasty, cursory. The term shares sense with phrases such as "cut corners" and "quick and dirty," though it emphasizes sloppy execution rather than speed alone.