sleaze

American  

[sleez] / sliz /

noun

Slang.

1. a contemptible or vulgar person.

2. a shabby or slovenly person.

3. a sleazy quality, character, or atmosphere; shoddiness; vulgarity.

4. sleazy behavior, content, appearance, or the like.

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sleaze British  

/ sliːz /

noun

1. sleaziness

2. dishonest, disreputable, or immoral behaviour, especially of public officials or employees

   political sleaze

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Etymology

Origin of sleaze

First recorded in 1950–55; back formation from sleazy

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sleaze

A labelman, played with equal parts tenderness and sleaze by Hanks, swoops in to take the boys on a tour of state fairs.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

But he resigned as MP on July 8 amid a probe by the parliamentary sleaze watchdog into his finances.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

"So I'm sitting there, minding my own business. They invite me into this Signal chat and now they're attacking me as a sleaze bag, I don't even get it."

From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2025

And so far, the familiar patina of hired-goon griminess and comical sleaze is unmistakable.

From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2024

I always knew ReelTok was sleazy, but this is a whole new level of sleaze.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

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