Dictionary.com
definitions

scoundrel

[skoun-druhl]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scoundrel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an unprincipled, dishonorable person; villain.

adjective

mean or base in nature; villainous; unprincipled; dishonorable.

RELATED CONTENT

paragonRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
day-tripperRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

crook, rascal, reprobate, miscreant, cheat, dastard, maggot, thief, imp, villain, wretch, good-for-nothing, heel, caitiff, vagabond, scalawag, blackguard, creep, scamp, lowlife

Nearby words

  1. scottsbluff,
  2. scottsboro,
  3. scottsdale,
  4. scotty,
  5. scotus,
  6. scoundrelly,
  7. scour,
  8. scourer,
  9. scourge,
  10. scouring pad

Origin of scoundrel

First recorded in 1580–90; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for scoundrel

British Dictionary definitions for scoundrel

scoundrel

noun

a worthless or villainous person
Derived Formsscoundrelly, adjective

Word Origin for scoundrel

C16: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for scoundrel

scoundrel

n.

1580s, skowndrell, of unknown origin. One suggestion is Anglo-French escoundre (Old French escondre) "to hide, hide oneself," from Vulgar Latin *excondere, from Latin condere "to hide" (see abscond). The main objection to this theory is that hundreds of years lie between the two words.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper