/ sliːz; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially by politicians or business people :
allegations of sleaze
The candidate was seriously damaged by the sleaze factor.
2.
[ U ] 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
3.
[ C ] (also sleaze·bag / ˈsliːzbæg; NAmE / sleaze·ball / ˈsliːzbɔːl/ especially in NAmE ) a dishonest or immoral person
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WORD ORIGIN
1960s: back-formation from sleazy .