English Reference
adjective · noun

hazy

adj. · n.
US /ˈheɪzi/ UK /hˈeɪzi/ hazy

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.not clear because of mist, smoke, dust, or heat in the air.

    adj.obscured by haze, mist, or particulate matter in the atmosphere.

    Simple

    The mountains were hazy in the distance because of the summer heat.

    In context

    The skyline remained hazy for several days as smoke from the distant wildfires drifted across the valley.

    mistyfoggysmoggy
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.not clear in your mind; difficult to remember or understand.

    adj.lacking distinctness or clarity in thought, memory, or description.

    Simple

    I have a hazy memory of my first day at school.

    In context

    The details of the agreement were still hazy, leading to several hours of further negotiation to clarify the terms.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced InformalTechnical Cooking

    n.a type of beer, usually an IPA, that looks cloudy rather than clear.

    n.a variety of beer, typically an India Pale Ale, characterized by a cloudy appearance and a softer mouthfeel.

    Simple

    He ordered a hazy at the local brewery because he liked the fruity taste.

    In context

    The brewery's latest hazy features a complex blend of tropical hops and a characteristically opaque appearance.

    cloudy beerhazy IPA

From earlier hawsey (1625), a nautical term of uncertain origin. Possibly from Middle English hasi, haswy, from Old English haswiġ (“grey; ashen; dusky”), from Old English hasu (“dusky; grey; ashen”), from Proto-Germanic haswaz (“grey”), from Proto-Indo-European ḱeh₂s- (“bright grey”). By surface analysis, haze + -y; although Modern English haze is more likely a back-formation of hazy.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin ine-pro *ḱeh₂s-
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated