bum rap
noun
informal
1
US
: an unfair claim that someone has committed a crime or done something wrong
The defendant was sent to jail on a bum rap.
2
chiefly US
: a criticism or bad opinion that is not deserved or fair
The teenagers say they've all gotten a bum rap because one person damaged some property.
She thinks motorboats get a bum rap from environmentalists.
He was given a bum rap by reviewers.
Examples of bum rap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Step 3: Befriend And Channel Your Anxiety Misunderstanding and rejecting anxiety has given it a bum rap, leaving many of us with negative reactions to it.
—
Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
In the tech industry, at least, the trajectory of Nvidia (and many other companies) suggests that’s a bum rap.
—James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
Many Gen Zs, feeling misunderstood and vilified, have gotten a bum rap from other generations and business leaders.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
Newsom can be fairly criticized for many things he’s done or not done over the last five years, but this one is a bum rap.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 6 July 2024
Electric cars have been getting a bum rap lately for a variety of reasons, most notably their premium prices, cold-weather battery range and the unfortunate state of public charging.
—Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Make the Freezer Your Friend Frozen food has gotten a bum rap, but all frozen food need not be equated only with TV Dinners and petrified pizza.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 5 June 2023
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Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
In the tech industry, at least, the trajectory of Nvidia (and many other companies) suggests that’s a bum rap.
—James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
Many Gen Zs, feeling misunderstood and vilified, have gotten a bum rap from other generations and business leaders.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
Newsom can be fairly criticized for many things he’s done or not done over the last five years, but this one is a bum rap.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 6 July 2024
Electric cars have been getting a bum rap lately for a variety of reasons, most notably their premium prices, cold-weather battery range and the unfortunate state of public charging.
—Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Make the Freezer Your Friend Frozen food has gotten a bum rap, but all frozen food need not be equated only with TV Dinners and petrified pizza.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 5 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Bum rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bum%20rap. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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