scandal

American  

[skan-dl] / ˈskæn dl /

noun

• scandals
  plural

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

Synonym Usage

See gossip.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scandals
  plural

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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

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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

See Examples For:

scandal scandals

Senator Rafael Filizzola said: "We are facing the biggest corruption scandal in our democratic history – a tremendous blow to the state, to private citizens, and to the country's credibility and image."

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

This is not the first wiretapping scandal to have involved Indonesia's leaders.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

The son of one of Malaysia's founding fathers, Najib was groomed for leadership from a young age but fell from power spectacularly as public anger mounted over the corruption scandal.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

Nearly four years ago, the newlyweds and their journalist exes — also recent newlyweds — were embroiled in scandal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

I looked up the word scandal in my dictionary.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

More than 30 people have signed the letter, including those affected by the maternity scandals.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

However, Binance has faced its fair share of scandals.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Juan's work has exposed corruption scandals and shown how local governments have often failed to tackle the region's main problems: impunity and inequality.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Marshall’s own scandals may be helping Hamilton, too.

From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2026

One of New York State’s biggest recent scandals has been the exposure of wholesale S.L.A. graft and corruption.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

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Related Words

• crime
• rumor
• wrongdoing

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