guilty pleasure

American

[gil-tee plezh-er] / ˈgɪl ti ˈplɛʒ ər /

noun

an activity, habit, food, etc., that a person feels shame or guilt for enjoying, often because they feel they will be judged by others.

TV shows meant for teens are a guilty pleasure many adults just can't get enough of.
Eating healthfully is important, but treating yourself to a guilty pleasure from time to time is definitely not a crime.

Etymology

Origin of guilty pleasure

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s my guilty pleasure and helps me unwind.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

It is very much a guilty pleasure of mine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

Not everyone sees fruity martinis as a guilty pleasure.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2025

Greg Strause, who directed “Skyline” and founded a special-effects company with his brother Colin, agrees that viewers take guilty pleasure in seeing Los Angeles landmarks ripped to shreds.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025

A single guilty pleasure song by Justin Bieber.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023