scandal

American  

[skan-dl] / ˈskæn dl /

noun

1. a disgraceful or discreditable action, circumstance, etc.

2. an offense caused by a fault or misdeed.

3. damage to reputation; public disgrace.

   Synonyms:

   ignominy, opprobrium, disrepute, shame, dishonor, discredit

4. defamatory talk; malicious gossip.

   Synonyms:

   obloquy, aspersion, calumny, slander

   Antonyms:

   praise, honor

5. a person whose conduct brings disgrace or offense.

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verb (used with object)

scandaled, scandaling, scandalled, scandalling

1. British Dialect. to defame (someone) by spreading scandal.

2. Obsolete. to disgrace.

scandal British  

/ ˈskændəl /

noun

1. a disgraceful action or event

   his negligence was a scandal

2. censure or outrage arising from an action or event

3. a person whose conduct causes reproach or disgrace

4. malicious talk, esp gossip about the private lives of other people

5. law a libellous action or statement

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verb

1. to disgrace

2. to scandalize

Related Words

See gossip.

Other Word Forms

• miniscandal
  noun
• scandalous
  adjective
• scandalously
  adverb
• scandalousness
  noun
• superscandal
  noun

Etymology

Origin of scandal

1175–1225; from Late Latin scandalum from Late Greek skándalon “snare, cause of moral stumbling”; replacing Middle English scandle from Old French (north) escandle from Late Latin, as above

Explanation

Scandal is disgraceful events or nasty gossip about people's private lives, like the scandal that erupted when you were seen at the mall with your best friend's girlfriend. Just because there's a scandal, it doesn't mean it's always true — being seen with your friend's girl? What the gossips didn't know it that you were buying his birthday present. Some scandals, though, involve public figures who have been found guilty. For example, if a politician is found guilty of taking bribes, that's a scandal that will rock your town, causing outrage not to mention the end of that politician's career.

Example Sentences

A few weeks ago it was the scandal over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite concerns about whether Mr. Mandelson had passed a national-security vetting procedure.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

I think initially the disinformation beat was really tech-focused, and that overstated the influence of a scandal like Cambridge Analytica.

From Slate • May 7, 2026

Philips said Wednesday its first-quarter profits had doubled, maintaining its sales forecasts as the Dutch electronics and medical device manufacturer seeks to turn the page on a scandal involving faulty sleep machines.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

The scandal is especially egregious because widows and widowers are disproportionately among the poorest elders.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

I can tell she’s mortified, but it smells of pageant scandal and I kind of love it.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

Related Words

• crime
• rumor
• wrongdoing