Scapegoat
/ˈskeɪpɡəʊt/noun
A person or group blamed for something that is not their fault.
He was made a scapegoat for the company's financial problems.
Often appears as...
- made a scapegoat
- used as a scapegoat
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Blame Transfer
Used when someone transfers blame to avoid responsibility or discredit others.
Despite his mistakes, he looked for a scapegoat to pin the failure on.
Pro Tip 2/3Unjust Treatment
Highlights the unjust nature of blaming a scapegoat; they are not truly at fault.
She felt like a scapegoat when blamed for the project’s delay, which she didn't cause.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
Often involves power imbalance; those with less power are more likely to be scapegoats.
As an intern, he was an easy scapegoat for the missing reports.
Compare with
dupemartyrsacrificestoogevictim
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