I. ˈskāp-ˌgōt noun
Etymology: scape (I); intended as translation of Hebrew ‘azāzēl (probably name of a demon), as if ‘ēz 'ōzēl goat that departs—Leviticus 16:8(Authorized Version)
Date: 1530
1. : a goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur
2.
a. : one that bears the blame for others
b. : one that is the object of irrational hostility
II. transitive verb
Date: 1943
: to make a scapegoat of
• scape·goat·ism -ˌgō-ˌti-zəm noun