seedy

Seedy is an adjective with two principal senses in contemporary English. The primary sense describes places, people, or situations that are dirty, shabby, or disreputable. A seedy hotel, a seedy neighborhood, or a seedy bar suggests poor upkeep, questionable activity, or a lack of safety. The term carries a strong negative connotation and is commonly used in informal speech or journalism to imply moral laxity or illegitimacy.

A second, more casual sense refers to feeling unwell or sickly. In this use, someone might say they feel seedy after a long flight or a bout of food poisoning. This meaning is not about appearance or morality, but about health and general well-being.

Etymology and usage notes

The exact origin of seedy is uncertain. The adjective appears in English in the 19th century and is thought to be linked to the broader concept of seediness—the quality of being shabby or inferior—though the precise linguistic path is not clearly documented. Today, seedy is most often applied to people or places that appear run-down, unscrupulous, or sleazy, but it can also describe a temporary sense of physical malaise.

Related terms and collocations

Related noun: seediness. Common collocations include seedy hotel, seedy bar/area, seedy underbelly, and seedy-looking. Seedy can be pejorative and is usually inappropriate in formal writing.

See also

Seediness; seedy underbelly; sleazy; run-down.