Pronunciation: [slˈiːz] (IPA) 
The word "sleaze" is spelled with the letter "e" at the end, despite the "z" being pronounced as "s". This spelling is due to the word's origin in the Dutch language where the letter "e" is added to the end of certain words for pluralization. The IPA phonetic transcription for "sleaze" is /sliːz/. This means that the "s" sound is pronounced as "sl" and the "z" sound is pronounced as "z" and not "s".
Sleaze is a term that can be used as both a noun and a verb, referring to a certain quality or behavior that is generally regarded as morally corrupt, disreputable, or lacking in integrity. As a noun, it specifically describes the state or characteristic of something or someone being sordid, low-grade, or morally dubious. It often refers to individuals or practices involved in unethical or dishonest actions, exploiting others for personal gain, or engaging in illicit activities.
Furthermore, "sleaze" may also be used more broadly to describe an atmosphere or environment that exudes immorality, dishonesty, or a lack of ethics. It can evoke a sense of discomfort or disgust due to its association with unscrupulous behavior or dubious intentions.
As a verb, "sleaze" refers to the act of engaging in or promoting sleazy behavior. It implies engaging in actions that are generally considered unprincipled, dubious, or immoral. This usage highlights the deliberately dubious or unethical nature of certain behaviors or transactions, often without concern for their negative consequences on others.
In summary, "sleaze" encompasses a range of negative connotations and signifies behaviors, individuals, or environments that lack integrity, are morally corrupt, or engage in unethical practices.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sleaze" is believed to have originated in the 1960s as an alteration of the word "sleeze", which itself derived from the older term "sleazy". "Sleazy" first appeared in English in the late 16th century as a variation of the word "slutsy", meaning "dirty, slovenly". Over time, "sleazy" came to describe something or someone lacking integrity, ethics, or moral standards, particularly in relation to sexual promiscuity or exploitation. The term "sleaze" subsequently emerged as a noun form of "sleazy", used to refer to anything or anyone considered morally corrupt or in disreputable condition.
