The scapegoat was a goat that was designated (Hebrew: לַעֲזָאזֵֽל) la-'aza'zeyl; "for absolute removal" (for symbolic removal of the people's sins with the literal removal of the goat), and outcast in the desert …

Noun The CEO was made the scapegoat for the company's failures. companies often use the economy as a scapegoat to avoid taking responsibility for dropping sales

Scapegoat, in the Yom Kippur ritual described in Leviticus, goat ritually burdened with the sins of the Jewish people. It was sent into the wilderness for Azazel, an evil spirit, while another was slain in …

Finding a scapegoat when times go bad is often a task of utmost importance, for political leaders and ordinary citizens alike.

SCAPEGOAT definition: a person or group made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place. See examples of scapegoat used in a sentence.

The term ‘scapegoat’ is well-known: it refers to an innocent person who has to carry the blame for something on behalf of other people.

May 14, 2025 · Scapegoating means unfairly blaming someone for problems to hide the real cause. The term scapegoat comes from a Bible story where a goat carries away a group's sins. Sociologists …

The word scapegoat first occurred in the earliest English translation of the Bible, and it has come to mean any individual punished for the misdeeds of others. When a politician gets caught lying, he or …

Feb 10, 2026 · Learn about the history and meaning of "scapegoat," from ancient rituals to modern social dynamics. A comprehensive glossary entry

To scapegoat someone means to blame them publicly for something bad that has happened, even though it was not their fault.