SCAPEGOAT


Meaning of SCAPEGOAT in English

scape ‧ goat /ˈskeɪpɡəʊt $ -ɡoʊt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]

[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: scape (from scape 'to get away' (13-20 centuries) , from escape ) + goat ; meant as a translation of Hebrew 'azazel (probably the name of an evil spirit in the Bible), as if it were 'ez 'ozel 'goat that leaves' ]

someone who is blamed for something bad that happens, even if it is not their fault

scapegoat for

She believed she had been made a scapegoat for what happened.

—scapegoat verb [transitive]

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.