schmaltz

American  

[shmahlts, shmawlts] / ʃmɑlts, ʃmɔlts /

Also schmalz sometimes shmaltz

noun

1. Informal. exaggerated sentimentalism, as in music or soap operas.

2. liquid animal fat, especially of a chicken.

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schmaltz British  

/ ʃmɔːlts, ʃmælts /

noun

1. excessive sentimentality, esp in music

2. animal fat used in cooking

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Etymology

Origin of schmaltz

First recorded in 1930–35; from Yiddish shmalts or German Schmalz; cognate with smelt ¹

Explanation

Schmaltz is way too much sappiness or sentimentality. A movie soundtrack that's dripping with emotion is full of schmaltz. If a piece of music or a work of art goes overboard trying to make you feel sad or nostalgic, it's indulging in schmaltz. Love scenes in movies are too often guilty of schmaltz as well. Since the mid-1930s, the Yiddish word schmaltz has been used this way, although its original meaning is "rendered chicken fat," or "melted fat," first spelled shmalts. It comes from the Old High German smalz, "animal fat."

Example Sentences

"This study suggests that the body can respond to infrasound even when we can't consciously hear it," said Schmaltz.

From Science Daily • May 3, 2026

"The first priority would be testing a wider range of frequencies and exposure durations," added Schmaltz.

From Science Daily • May 3, 2026

Copley saved breakaway chances by Jason Zucker and Nick Schmaltz in the final nine minutes of the first period, and Crouse missed the net on a breakaway in the last minute.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2023

Schmaltz has 100 goals and 199 assists through 427 career NHL games.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 27, 2023

And again the fortune of Schmaltz was swept away and again he was kicked.

From The Boy Grew Older by Broun, Heywood