stigmatize

verb

stig·​ma·​tize ˈstig-mə-ˌtīz 

stigmatized; stigmatizing; stigmatizes

transitive verb

1

a

: to describe or regard (something, such as a characteristic or group of people) in a way that shows strong disapproval

"… Academic ableism accentuates ability and stigmatizes any weakness. …"

—Michele Cooke

The campaign strives to educate individuals and communities about mental illness to the point where they understand it well enough not to stigmatize it, which is similar to what's happened with physical illnesses over time.

—MacKenzie Tastan

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other substance use problems are considered diseases like any other, but are stigmatized as moral failure by many.

—Marcelo Campos

b

archaic : brand

2

: to mark with stigmata

stigmatization

ˌstig-mə-tə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of stigmatize in a Sentence

a legal system that stigmatizes juveniles as criminals

Recent Examples on the Web

For decades, American culture has pushed college as the only path to middle-class prosperity while stigmatizing manual labor as somehow lesser work. —Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus, affecting up to 80% of women by age 50, yet remain critically under-researched, stigmatized, and systemically neglected. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 30 July 2025

This should not permanently stigmatize 60 Minutes or CBS News. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 14 July 2025

And alcoholism was much more stigmatized back then. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for stigmatize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

stigmatize

verb

stig·​ma·​tize ˈstig-mə-ˌtīz 

stigmatized; stigmatizing

: to mark with a stigma

especially : to describe or identify as disgraceful