Pronounced "lays majesty". Noun (sometimes hyphenated), meaning an injury to another's dignity or reputation. It can also mean an insult to a country or its leader; in some cases, lese majeste can be a crime.
Example 1: The elderly gentleman, who had been a professor for over forty years, was accused of delivering lectures that were rambling, outdated, and incoherent; this lese majeste ultimately led him to resign.
Example 2: The film The King and I, which allegedly presents embarrassing and inaccurate stereotypes of Thai culture, was banned in Thailand because of laws against lese majeste.