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On Yom Kippur, the ancient Hebrews would sacrifice one goat for God and lead another one, over whom all the sins of Israel had been confessed, into the wilderness to bear the sins of the people away. The ceremony is described in Leviticus, where it is said that one lot shall be cast for God and one for "Azazel." Modern scholars usually interpret Azazel (ʽazāzēl in Hebrew) as being the name of a demon living in the desert, but ancient biblical translators thought ʽazāzēl referred to the goat itself, apparently confusing the word with the Hebrew phrase ʽēz 'ōzēl, meaning "goat that departs." Thus, in a 16th century English translation, the word for Azazel/the goat was rendered as scapegoote—that is, "goat that escapes." The extended senses of scapegoat we use today evolved from this biblical use.
Examples of scapegoat in a Sentence
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Apr. 2025
And in a show that centers the experiences of white men in the South, Aspen and Evans were used as scapegoats, in order to serve a greater character arc for JT and Rose.
—Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
At a time when world leaders across politics, business, and religion too often malign and scapegoat LGBTQ people, my meetings with Pope Francis reinforced the power of our stories and our shared humanity.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scapegoat
Cite this Entry
“Scapegoat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scapegoat. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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