noun
scandal
SKAN-dul/ˈskændl/
An event or behavior that causes public outrage or disgrace.
A bribery scandal forces the mayor to resign from office.
Etymology
Greek skandalon supplied the image of a stumbling block, used figuratively for something causing moral offense. The meaning extended to damage to reputation and then to the disgraceful action or event causing it.
In context
Turns out not to have been. So you look in South Korea for example big corruption scandal drives out the president
More examples
- The company faces a scandal over unsafe working conditions.
- Several players lost their contracts after the cheating scandal.
- Recent scandals have shaken public trust in the charity.
Forms
scandal · scandals
scandalous adjective — Causing public outrage or moral disapproval.
scandalize verb — To shock or offend people's moral standards.
Similar words
- disgrace
- Emphasizes the shame brought on a person or institution.
- controversy
- Centers on public disagreement, without necessarily involving disgraceful behavior.