sleaze
noun /sliːz/
/sliːz/
- [uncountable] dishonest or immoral behaviour, especially by politicians or business people
- allegations of sleaze
- The candidate was seriously damaged by the sleaze factor.
- [uncountable] behaviour or conditions that are unpleasant and not socially acceptable, especially because sex is involved
- the sleaze of a town that was once a naval base
- (also sleazebag[countable] a person who is not honest or moral/ˈsliːzbæɡ//ˈsliːzbæɡ/, sleazeball/ˈsliːzbɔːl//ˈsliːzbɔːl/especially in North American English)
Word Origin1960s: back-formation from sleazy.