A sealing device comprises a slide ring and a counterring having sealing surfaces, the slide ring and counterring contacting one another under axial prestressing in a sealing manner and capable of rotating relative to one another, the counterring and a substantially L-shaped engaging ring being interconnected, the engaging ring being affixed to a shaft to be sealed, and the counterring and the engaging ring being sealed relatively to each other by a sealing ring. The counterring contacts a radial segment of the engaging ring and surrounds an axial segment with radial clearance, and the sealing ring is sealingly arranged, under elastic prestressing, in the gap formed by the clearance. The counterring has an inner peripheral surface which forms an angle .alpha. of about 0.5.degree. to about 60.degree. with an axis of rotation, and the radial clearance in which the sealing ring is arranged is greater on the side facing the radial segment of the engaging ring than on the side facing the slide ring.