stigma

American  

[stig-muh] / ˈstɪg mə /

noun

• stigmata,
  plural
• stigmas
  plural

1. a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one's reputation.

   Synonyms:

   tarnish, blemish, blot

2. Medicine/Medical.

   1. a mental or physical mark that is characteristic of a defect or disease.

      the stigmata of leprosy.

   2. a place or point on the skin that bleeds during certain mental states, as in hysteria.

3. Zoology.

   1. a small mark, spot, or pore on an animal or organ.

   2. the eyespot of a protozoan.

   3. an entrance into the respiratory system of insects.

4. Botany. the part of a pistil that receives the pollen.

5. stigmata, marks resembling the wounds of the crucified body of Christ, said to be supernaturally impressed on the bodies of certain persons, especially nuns, tertiaries, and monastics.

6. Archaic. a mark made by a branding iron on the skin of a criminal or slave.

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stigma British  

/ ˈstɪɡmə /

noun

1. a distinguishing mark of social disgrace

   the stigma of having been in prison

2. a small scar or mark such as a birthmark

3. pathol

   1. any mark on the skin, such as one characteristic of a specific disease

   2. any sign of a mental deficiency or emotional upset

4. botany the receptive surface of a carpel, where deposited pollen germinates

5. zoology

   1. a pigmented eyespot in some protozoans and other invertebrates

   2. the spiracle of an insect

6. archaic a mark branded on the skin

7. (plural) Christianity marks resembling the wounds of the crucified Christ, believed to appear on the bodies of certain individuals

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stigma Scientific  

/ stĭg′mə /

1. The sticky tip of a flower pistil, on which pollen is deposited at the beginning of pollination.

2. See more at flower

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• stigmas
  plural
• stigmata
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stigma

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin, from Greek stígma “tattoo mark,” equivalent to stig- (stem of stízein “to tattoo”) + -ma, noun suffix; see stick ²

Explanation

If something has a negative association attached to it, call this a stigma. Bed-wetting can lead to a social stigma for a six-year-old, while chewing tobacco might have the same effect for a sixty-year-old. Stigma, from the Greek word of the same spelling meaning "mark, puncture," came into English through Latin to mean a mark burned into the skin to signify disgrace. It did not take long for stigma to be used figuratively, as it is commonly used today, for the negative stereotype or reputation attached to something. If a politician is caught taking bribes, she might resign because of the stigma.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stigma stigmas stigmata

Soon, the #MeToo era would lessen the stigma of coming forward.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

There is also, in many countries outside the U.S., a social stigma attached to not seeking employment.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 26, 2026

It’s difficult to imagine that a single presented as playfully as this one will be taking a real hard look at its association with stigma and shame.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

The data on this is contested as some sources rely on self-reporting, and sceptics argue greater awareness and reduced stigma around mental health mean more people are coming forward.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

The shame and stigma that follow you for the rest of your life—they are the worst.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Limiting your travels due to potential racial stigmas is doing yourself a disservice.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Trust The Signs, they discuss the storyline, the stigmas and symptoms.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026

It’s also a testament to bygone stigmas and ascendant trends in American dining.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

And there’s a lot of cultural stigmas that she looks at when it comes to female and male gender roles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2025

To subject people who test positive to stigmas, especially when most of them may be false positives, is counterproductive and wrong.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

St. Francis, unmistakable from his tonsure, his chestnut robe and his stigmata, looks lovingly at the Christ Child.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026

A student recently asked me about St. Francis of Assisi and the stigmata.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2025

At least get some kind of stigmata going.

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2024

“But right now he’s ambulatory enough to where he doesn’t have all the stigmata of being critically ill in an intensive care unit, and all of the things that come with that.”

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 27, 2023

I was a bom-and-bred Catholic and thought immediately it was some sort of writing stigmata and that I should get to a church.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos

Related Words

• scar
• stain