Scapegoat Definition
skāpgōt
scapegoated, scapegoating, scapegoats
noun
scapegoats
One that is made to bear the blame of others.
American Heritage
A goat over the head of which the high priest of the ancient Jews confessed the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement, after which it was allowed to escape: Lev. 16:7-26
Webster's New World
A person, group, or thing upon whom the blame for the mistakes or crimes of others is thrust.
Webster's New World
verb
To make a scapegoat of.
Webster's New World
To blame something for the problems of a given society without evidence to back up the claim.
Wiktionary
Origin of Scapegoat
-
Coined by Tyndale from scape +"Ž goat, interpreting Hebrew עזאזל (“Azazel") (Leviticus 16:8, 10, 26), from an interpretation as coming from ×¢×– (ez, “goat") and אוזל (ozél, “escapes"). First attested 1530.
From Wiktionary
scape goat (translation of Hebrew ‘ēz ’ōzēl goat that escapes) (misreading of ‘ăzā’zēl Azazel)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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