haze

¹ American  

[heyz] / heɪz /

noun

• hazes
  plural

1. an aggregation in the atmosphere of very fine, widely dispersed, solid or liquid particles, or both, giving the air an opalescent appearance that subdues colors.

2. vagueness or obscurity, as of the mind or perception; confused or vague thoughts, feelings, etc..

   The victims were still in a haze and couldn't describe the accident.

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verb (used with or without object)

hazed, hazing

1. to make or become hazy.

haze ² American  

[heyz] / heɪz /

verb (used with object)

hazed, hazing

1. to subject (freshmen, newcomers, etc.) to abusive or humiliating tricks and ridicule.

2. Chiefly Nautical. to harass with unnecessary or disagreeable tasks.

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haze ¹ British  

/ heɪz /

noun

1. meteorol

   1. reduced visibility in the air as a result of condensed water vapour, dust, etc, in the atmosphere

   2. the moisture or dust causing this

2. obscurity of perception, feeling, etc

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verb

1. to make or become hazy

haze ² British  

/ heɪz /

verb

1. to subject (fellow students) to ridicule or abuse

2. nautical to harass with humiliating tasks

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haze Idioms  

1. see in a fog (haze).

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Usage

What else does haze mean? Haze is a noun or adjective referring to a type of LSD (acid) or marijuana ... typically purple haze. Hazing, on the other hand, is an initiation ritual where people are subjected to all kinds of cruel and unusual tasks or humiliations.

Synonym Usage

See cloud.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hazer
  noun
• hazeless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hazes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of haze¹

First recorded in 1700–10; perhaps noun use of unattested Middle English hase; Old English hasu, variant of haswa “ashen, dusky”; see hazy, hare

Origin of haze²

First recorded in 1670–80, haze is from the Middle French word haser to irritate, annoy

Explanation

Haze is the fog or mist that's caused by small particles in the air. There is often a haze hovering over the city of Los Angeles. Although the noun haze can describe any kind of misty or slightly obscured air, it usually refers to visible air pollution, rather than just fog. You can also talk about being in a haze when you're confused or disoriented. When you hear haze being used as a verb, it usually means to torment a new, young recruit to a club, team, or group — the way fraternity brothers sometimes haze a new member, forcing him to perform humiliating or dangerous actions.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

haze hazes hazed hazing

Her energy rises and falls alongside the mysterious mist, which has engulfed the city and brought whispers of a mysterious ancient entity lurking in its haze.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

The Malaysian Meteorological Department urged locals to stay indoors, with director-general Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip blaming a "cross-border haze phenomenon from Kalimantan."

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

In the distance, somewhat grayed by atmospheric haze, are the smokestacks and cooling tower of the power plant.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

"Within 15 minutes there was a tiny bit of haze, to black smoke, to flames," Curtois told the BBC.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

He turned to the watery blue haze, which seemed to ignore his inquiry.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

They also found that the previous study's detection of hazes could instead be caused by star spots on the star's surface, highlighting the importance of considering the star in the analysis.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 9, 2024

As winds whip around the planet, carrying along the quartz nanoparticles, they form high-altitude hazes — essentially diffuse clouds of rock crystals — at the day–night termination zone.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 20, 2023

"What we have always seen as blurred hazes in Jupiter's atmosphere now appear as crisp features that we can track along with the planet's fast rotation."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2023

The dark spot is likely he result of mixing hazes and ices.

From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2023

The morning sun had to burn its red path through low-hanging hazes and clouds of industrial smoke.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

Equally normal, as far as Perales was concerned, was a Detroit skyline hazed by the fume-spewing Marathon petroleum refinery.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 22, 2023

Colum McCann, Benjamin Kunkel, Prince Charles and Jean-Michel Basquiat were also hazed for moments of preposterousness.

From New York Times ● May 22, 2023

“Willingness has nothing to do with being hazed, you can be willing and be hazed,” said the father.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2021

The wolf was part of the Hoodoo pack that was hazed away from Nutrioso in December, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 18, 2021

Late in the afternoon, my mind hazed with fatigue.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin

The kitchen scenes are a combo platter of boot camp, frat house hazing ritual and kung fu movie.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

“I saw it as affectionate hazing and acceptance into the group.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

But the objects of his hazing are publicly unfazed.

From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2026

We were then, indeed, challenged and tested, with a slew of activities that added up to little more than a light hazing to bond us.

From Slate ● Apr. 27, 2025

Fort Hare could be a rather elitist place and was not without the hazing common to many institutions of higher learning.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela