scapegoating
|scape-goat-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈskeɪpˌɡoʊtɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈskeɪpˌɡəʊtɪŋ/
(scapegoat)
blame bearer
Etymology
'scapegoat' originates from Hebrew, specifically the word 'ʿăzāzēl,' where 'ʿēz' meant 'goat' and 'ʿāzāl' meant 'to go away.'
'ʿăzāzēl' transformed into the English word 'scapegoat' through the translation of the Bible, where it was used to describe a goat sent into the wilderness after the Jewish chief priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people upon it.
Initially, it meant 'a goat sent into the wilderness,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person or group made to bear the blame for others.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of blaming someone for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, often as a way of distracting attention from the real causes.
The manager's scapegoating of his team members led to a toxic work environment.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45