What does sleaze mean?
Sleaze is an informal, strongly disparaging word for conduct, material, or surroundings that seem seedy, vulgar, or disreputable. Used as a noun, it usually denotes an atmosphere of moral laxity, commercial exploitation, or cheapened sensationalism: political sleaze, for example, suggests corruption or cynical opportunism rather than a specific crime. As an adjective, sleaze characterizes a person, place, production, or presentation as cheap, tawdry, or improper. The word can also label a disreputable person and is occasionally used as a rare verb meaning to make something sleazy. Its force comes less from describing one overtly illegal act than from conveying a general impression of dirty cheapness and moral distrust. Although strongly associated with journalistic and political criticism in modern English, sleaze is not limited to those contexts; it can condemn entertainment, advertising, fashion, or everyday behaviour judged crass or tasteless. Because it carries an overt moral and aesthetic judgement, it is better suited to forceful commentary than formal description.
Seedy, vulgar, cheap, or disreputable behavior, material, or surroundings; also, a disreputable or morally contemptible person.
"The newspaper described the negotiations as an exercise in political sleaze."
Usually uncountable when referring to behavior or material; the countable sense is chiefly used for a disreputable person.
Characterized by sleaze; seedy, vulgar, cheap, or disreputable.
"The advertisement had a sleaze air of calculated dishonesty."
Relatively uncommon; sleazy is normally preferred in modern usage.
To make or render sleazy.
"The publicity campaign only sleazed an already disreputable reputation."
Rare and chiefly literary or journalistic.
The plural is uncommon and is chiefly used for disreputable people; the uncountable sense has no plural.
"The detective suspected that several of the newcomers were sleazes."
Recorded by the mid-1960s, sleaze gave a blunt name to seedy culture and political taint—while leaving its own origin mysteriously blank.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sleaze
The precise origin of sleaze is uncertain. The word is attested from the mid-1960s, after the adjective sleazy had already entered English, and the two forms are evidently related. The source of sleazy itself remains disputed, so no regular cognates or certain original-language equivalents can be identified.
Related word forms
How sleaze is actually used
Informal to colloquial and usually strongly disparaging. The noun is commonly used as an uncountable mass noun, while the adjective and verb are relatively uncommon; most speakers use the more familiar sleazy and its inflections.