What does hazy mean?
Hazy describes something that is not sharply defined or easy to make out. Its most familiar use is atmospheric: a hazy landscape, sky, or horizon appears softened by mist, dust, smoke, or other suspended particles. The word also applies to perceptions and abstractions that lack firm detail, as in a hazy memory, a hazy recollection, or a hazy explanation. In these contexts, hazy suggests gradual indistinctness rather than the sudden confusion associated with being dazed. It can likewise describe vision that has become blurred or difficult to focus. Hazy is common in British and American English and is appropriate in formal writing, journalism, criticism, and everyday conversation. Although it sometimes conveys a gentle, dreamlike atmosphere, it can also indicate uncertainty, poor visibility, or a need for more information. Related forms include the adverb hazily and the noun haziness.
adjectiveHazy means lacking sharpness or clarity, especially because of mist or atmospheric haze. It can also describe ideas, memories, outlines, or perceptions that are indistinct or uncertain.
- Obscured or softened in outline, especially by mist or atmospheric haze.
- Lacking definite detail, clarity, or precision; vague or difficult to understand.
- Having blurred vision or an impaired, indistinct perception.
"The mountains looked hazy through the morning mist, their outlines softened beyond the valley."
"A hazy afternoon turned the city skyline into a succession of pale silhouettes."
"Her recollection of the conversation was hazy, and she could not recall who had suggested the journey."
Hazy does more than blur a view: it gives shape to everything from a foggy horizon to a half-remembered motive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hazy come from?
Hazy was formed in the late 18th century by adding the suffix -y to the noun haze. The word haze dates from the late 16th century and comes from an earlier English form whose deeper origin is uncertain; a connection with hazel has sometimes been proposed but is not securely established. The derived forms hazily and haziness developed within the same English word family.
Related word forms
How hazy is actually used
Hazy is common in both formal and informal English. It often carries a soft, dreamlike connotation, but it can also suggest uncertainty, incomplete evidence, or impaired perception.
Easily confused with hazy
Haze is the noun for atmospheric mist or reduced visibility, whereas hazy is the adjective describing something indistinct because of that mist or for another reason.
Dazed describes a person who is confused or stunned, while hazy usually describes unclear visibility, perceptions, outlines, or recollections.