HM slave
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A Pokémon retained by the player to use Hidden Machine moves (certain moves that usually help in exploring the world of the games).
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
That leaves Flash, Waterfall, Fly, and (not a HM, but needed in much the same way) Rock Smash for another HM slave.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “HM slave” mean?
A Pokémon retained by the player to use Hidden Machine moves (certain moves that usually help in exploring the world of the games).
Is “HM slave” formal or informal?
HM slave is generally slang.