scandal

1 of 2

noun

scan·​dal ˈskan-dᵊl 

1

a

: a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral conceptions or disgraces those associated with it

b

: a person whose conduct offends propriety or morality

a scandal to the profession

2

: loss of or damage to reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety : disgrace

3

: malicious or defamatory gossip

4

: indignation, chagrin, or bewilderment brought about by a flagrant violation of morality, propriety, or religious opinion

5

a

: discredit brought upon religion by unseemly conduct in a religious person

b

: conduct that causes or encourages a lapse of faith or of religious obedience in another

scandal

2 of 2

verb

scandaled; scandaling; scandals

transitive verb

1

chiefly dialectal : defame, slander

2

obsolete : disgrace

Synonyms

Noun

• disgrace
• reflection

Choose the Right Synonym for scandal

offense, sin, vice, crime, scandal mean a transgression of law.

offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

Examples of scandal in a Sentence

Noun

There was a major scandal involving the mayor's ties with the Mob.

Government officials were caught in an embezzlement scandal.

Her behavior caused a scandal at school.

There was never a hint of scandal during her time in office.

The gossip magazine is filled with rumors and scandal.

The high price of gas these days is a scandal.

It's a scandal that this city doesn't have a movie theater.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In 2019, Kansas announced an extension of its adidas contract through 2031 even though the school and company were embroiled in the college basketball FBI scandal that saw a former adidas executive agree to pay nearly $350,000 to Kansas. —Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

But with Victoria’s Secret, Super inherited a beleaguered brand stained by upheaval and scandal. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 28 June 2025

Verb

Produced by Uforia and Pitaya Entertainment, the first season of En Boca Cerrada reveals heartbreaking details about the disturbing case, reminiscent of the Jeffrey Epstein and R. Kelly scandals. —Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 7 June 2023

Ohio Democrats meanwhile have struggled in the past to tie Republicans to scandal. —Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 25 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense, from Greek skandalon trap, stumbling block, offense; akin to Latin scandere to climb

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5a

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing scandal

• scandal sheet

Rhymes for scandal

• candle
• handle
• sandal
• vandal
• panhandle

Kids Definition

scandal

noun

scan·​dal

ˈskan-dᵊl

1

: a crime against faith that causes another to sin

2

: loss of or damage to one's reputation : disgrace

brought scandal on the school

3

: something that offends accepted moral standards or disgraces those associated with it

their behavior is a scandal