hazing
C1Formal, Academic, Media
Definition
Meaning
The practice of subjecting newcomers to an organization (like a university fraternity or sports team) to humiliating, abusive, or dangerous initiation rituals.
Can refer more broadly to any sustained, systematic mistreatment, harassment, or bullying of newcomers by established members of a group, often under the guise of tradition or team-building.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in the context of educational institutions (colleges, universities, military academies) and organized groups (fraternities, sororities, sports teams). It has strong negative connotations of abuse and illegality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both varieties, but the cultural phenomenon is more frequently reported and discussed in American English due to its prevalence in US college Greek life.
Connotations
Universally negative, associated with bullying, abuse, and criminal behavior.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English; in British English, similar practices might be referred to as "initiation rituals" or "initiation ceremonies," with "hazing" used when describing their abusive nature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] engages in hazing[Subject] was a victim of hazing[Subject] banned hazinghazing of [new members]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific noun]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, unless discussing company culture negatively (e.g., 'The toxic hazing of new interns had to stop.')
Academic
Common in sociology, psychology, and education research on group dynamics and student safety.
Everyday
Used when discussing news stories about abusive initiations at schools or clubs.
Technical
Used in legal and educational policy contexts regarding student conduct codes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The senior cadets were expelled for hazing the first-years.
- The club has strict rules against hazing new members.
American English
- The fraternity was suspended for hazing pledges.
- State laws increasingly criminalize hazing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Hazing is bad. It hurts people.
- The university stopped hazing because it is dangerous.
- Hazing often happens in some sports teams.
- Several students were hospitalized after a severe hazing incident at the fraternity.
- The new law makes hazing a criminal offence with serious penalties.
- Anthropologists study hazing rituals as a means of enforcing group hierarchy and solidarity, albeit through pathological means.
- The pervasive culture of hazing within the institution was finally exposed by a groundbreaking investigative report.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a thick HAZE of confusion and fear that newcomers are forced through as part of an abusive tradition.
Conceptual Metaphor
INITIATION IS A TRIAL BY ORDEAL (negative), PURIFICATION THROUGH SUFFERING (negative).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'туман' (fog/mist). The Russian concept 'дедовщина' (dedovshchina) in the military is a close cultural equivalent for systemic abuse of newcomers.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hazing' to mean simple teasing or light-hearted pranks (it implies systematic abuse).
- Confusing 'hazing' (noun) with 'hazy' (adjective meaning unclear).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for the term 'hazing'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In many jurisdictions, especially in the US, hazing is illegal and can result in criminal charges, as well as expulsion from educational institutions.
Hazing is a specific form of bullying targeted at newcomers as a condition for acceptance into a group, often framed as a 'tradition.' Bullying is broader and not necessarily tied to initiation.
No. While some groups may label team-building exercises as 'initiation,' the term 'hazing' specifically carries connotations of abuse, harassment, and danger. Positive integration activities are not called hazing.
No. While most publicly documented cases come from the US, similar abusive initiation practices exist worldwide in various institutions, such as the military, sports teams, and schools.