# haze

/ˈheɪz/ (US) · /hˈeɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/haze
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. atmospheric mist

noun · CEFR B2

a thin mist, smoke, or dust in the air that makes it difficult to see things in the distance.

For teachers: an atmospheric phenomenon where fine particulate matter or moisture droplets reduce visibility.

- The mountains were hidden behind a thick blue haze of heat and dust.
- A persistent summer haze hung over the valley, obscuring the distant peaks and muting the colours of the landscape.

### 2. mental confusion

noun · CEFR B2

a state of being confused or not being able to remember things clearly.

For teachers: a state of mental obscurity, confusion, or lack of clarity in perception or memory.

- He woke up in a haze, unable to remember where he had parked his car.
- The patient described living in a constant mental haze for weeks following the concussion, struggling to perform even basic cognitive tasks.

### 3. material cloudiness

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the amount of cloudiness in a clear material like glass or plastic.

For teachers: the degree of turbidity or lack of transparency in a substance, often measured as a percentage in manufacturing.

- The plastic screen had a slight haze that made it hard to read the text.
- Engineers measured the haze of the new polymer to ensure it met the strict transparency requirements for optical lenses.

### 4. initiation ritual

verb · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

to force new members of a group to do difficult, silly, or unpleasant tasks as a test.

For teachers: to subject newcomers to abusive, humiliating, or dangerous initiation rituals, particularly within fraternities or military units.

- The university has strict rules to stop older students who try to haze the freshmen.
- Several members of the sports team were suspended after reports emerged that they had continued to haze new recruits despite the ban.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually the person being initiated.

Teaching tip: This term is very common in American campus culture but is often associated with illegal or unethical bullying.

## Examples

- The mountains were hidden behind a blue haze.
- The morning sun struggled to break through the thick haze hanging over the city skyline.
- A shimmering heat haze rose from the asphalt, distorting the horizon and making the distant vehicles appear to float above the road surface.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.