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scapegoat
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Dictionary definition of scapegoat
A person or group of people who are blamed for the problems or mistakes of others, often without justification.
"The school board used the teacher as a scapegoat for the low test scores."
Detailed meaning of scapegoat
The term comes from the biblical story of Leviticus, in which a goat was symbolically loaded with the sins of the community and then driven into the wilderness as an act of atonement.
In modern usage, the term "scapegoat" is often used to describe someone who is made a target of blame for the actions or failures of a larger group or organization. They are often used as a way to deflect responsibility or to distract from the real issues. Scapegoating can occur in a variety of settings, such as in the workplace, in politics, or in a community.
It is important to note that scapegoating is a harmful and unjust practice, it can lead to negative consequences for the person or group being scapegoated, such as discrimination, mistreatment, or loss of reputation. It can also lead to a lack of accountability and prevent the real problems from being addressed and solved.
In summary, a scapegoat is someone or a group who is unfairly blamed for the problems or mistakes of others, often to deflect responsibility or to distract from the real issues. It is a harmful and unjust practice that can lead to negative consequences for the scapegoat and prevent the real problems from being addressed.
Example sentences of scapegoat
1. The mayor found a convenient scapegoat in the previous administration.
2. After the team lost the match, the coach became the scapegoat for their failure.
3. The CEO resigned, becoming the scapegoat for the company's financial troubles.
4. During the investigation, the manager tried to make his assistant the scapegoat.
5. The media often creates a scapegoat out of a high-profile figure to sell more stories.
6. The politician blamed foreign powers as a scapegoat for the economic crisis.
History and etymology of scapegoat
The noun 'scapegoat' has its etymological origins in ancient religious practices. The term is derived from the Bible, specifically the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament. In the context of the Hebrew Bible, during the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), a goat was chosen by lot to symbolically carry the sins of the community into the wilderness, thus serving as a vessel for the atonement of the people's transgressions. This goat was referred to as the 'azazel' or 'scapegoat.' Over time, the term 'scapegoat' evolved to describe a person or group of people who are unfairly blamed or made to bear the blame for the problems or mistakes of others, often without justification. It conveys the idea of shifting responsibility onto someone else as a means of avoiding accountability or consequences for one's actions.
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Further usage examples of scapegoat
1. After the scandal, the board of directors needed a scapegoat to calm the shareholders.
2. The teacher wrongly made John the scapegoat for the class's poor performance.
3. The community made the outsider a scapegoat for all their problems.
4. The dictator made the rebels the scapegoat for the famine affecting the country.
5. In many myths, a scapegoat is used to carry away the sins of the community.
6. The parents made the eldest child the scapegoat for the younger ones' mischief.
7. During the trial, the accused tried to present his friend as the scapegoat.
8. The leader of the expedition made the guide the scapegoat for their failure to reach the summit.
9. The director made the new employee the scapegoat for the project's failure.
10. The captain of the ship made the navigator the scapegoat for their getting lost at sea.
11. In the middle ages, witches were often used as a scapegoat for unexplained illnesses.
12. The principal made the new teacher the scapegoat for the school's declining test scores.
13. The general made the lieutenant the scapegoat for the lost battle.
14. The chef made the sous chef the scapegoat for the bad reviews of the restaurant.
