Agency Dictionary

Stigma

nounPronunciation: /ˈstɪɡ.mə/

In Portuguese: Estigma

What does “Stigma” mean?

A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.

Etymology

From Latin stigma, borrowed from Greek stigma, "mark, puncture, brand", from the verb stizein, "to prick". In Greek the word named the brand put on slaves and criminals with a heated instrument. In Christian tradition the plural stigmata came to name wounds matching those of Christ, a sense still present in religious use. The figurative sense of a mark of social disgrace developed from the image of a brand that could not be removed.

Usage note

In botany, stigma names the tip of the pistil that receives pollen, a sense unrelated to disgrace. The plural is stigmas in general use and stigmata in religious contexts.

Synonyms

stain
taint
brand

Word family

stigmatize
stigmatic
stigmata

Rhymes with

enigma

Usage examples

if we are to observe a flower until a bee lands on it and pollinates its stigma
Design.0 - Beyond the Surface of Forms
But acknowledging gaming as a form of entertainment and enjoying some gaming while being an adult is, more than anything, breaking a stigma.

Concept

Play as RestorationPlay as restoration is a psychological principle stating that voluntary leisure and playful activity are necessary biological requirements for cognitive and physical…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

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