scandal
SKAN-duhl
Scandal (noun) means a public event or revelation that causes outrage and damages the reputation of those involved. Example: “A financial scandal at the charity shocked everyone who had donated.”
noun
1
A public event or revelation that causes outrage and damages the reputation of those involved.
"A financial scandal at the charity shocked everyone who had donated."
"The bribery scandal forced the minister to resign."
"News of the scandal spread quickly through the office."
2
Damage done to someone's reputation, or the disgrace resulting from wrongdoing.
"The actor's career was ruined by the scandal that followed him for years."
"He moved abroad to escape the scandal and start again."
"The family never fully recovered from the scandal."
How to use scandal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shocking event or revelation of wrongdoing that damages someone's or an organisation's reputation.
Common pairings
a political scandal
cause a scandal
a scandal erupts
embroiled in scandal
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Word forms
- Plural
- scandals
- Third person singular
- scandals
- Past tense
- scandaled, scandalled
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A financial _____ at the charity shocked everyone who had donated.
Etymology
From Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum, "stumbling block, cause of offence," from Greek skándalon, originally meaning a trap set for an enemy.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for scandal
See all rhymes for scandal →Frequently asked questions
What does “scandal” mean?
The word “scandal” means a public event or revelation that causes outrage and damages the reputation of those involved. In plain terms, a shocking event or revelation of wrongdoing that damages someone's or an organisation's reputation.
How do you pronounce “scandal”?
“Scandal” is pronounced SKAN-duhl (/ˈskændəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “scandal” in a sentence?
Here is “scandal” used in a sentence: “The bribery scandal forced the minister to resign.”
What part of speech is “scandal”?
“Scandal” is a noun.
Where does the word “scandal” come from?
The word “scandal” comes from Latin. From Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum, "stumbling block, cause of offence," from Greek skándalon, originally meaning a trap set for an enemy.
Is “scandal” a common word?
“Scandal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “scandal” have?
“Scandal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a public event or revelation that causes outrage and damages the reputation of those involved.
What is the difference between a scandal and a controversy?
A scandal is a revelation or event that causes public outrage and damages reputations, usually involving wrongdoing. A controversy is a public disagreement or dispute, which may not involve misconduct or the same sense of disgrace.
What is the difference between scandal and gossip?
A scandal is a serious event or revelation that causes outrage and reputational damage. Gossip is casual talk about other people's private affairs, which is often trivial and not always about wrongdoing.
What verbs and adjectives commonly go with scandal?
Common collocations include cause, spark, or erupt in a scandal, and a scandal is often said to break when it becomes public. Frequent adjectives include political, financial, and corruption scandal.
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