noun / verb

blemish

BLEM-ish/ˈblemɪʃ/

A small imperfection that spoils something.

A small brown blemish marks the otherwise pristine red apple.

A single otherwise pristine red apple with one small, clearly visible brown blemish on its skin.

Etymology

blemishOld Frenchto make pale; stain, discolor

Old French blemir connected making pale with staining or discoloring. English developed the sense “damage or disfigure,” and the noun came to name a flaw that mars something’s beauty or soundness.

In context

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Jewels are an ornament to women but a blemish to men

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More examples

The scandal blemished his reputation.
She inspected the fruit for blemishes.
One mistake need not blemish an otherwise excellent record.

Forms

blemish · blemishes · blemished · blemishing

Similar words

flaw: May be structural or serious rather than a small surface defect.
mar: Spoils appearance or quality without naming the resulting defect.