/ dɪsˈgreɪs; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] the loss of other people's respect and approval because of the bad way sb has behaved
SYN shame :
Her behaviour has brought disgrace on her family.
The swimmer was sent home from the Olympics in disgrace .
There is no disgrace in being poor.
Sam was in disgrace with his parents.
2.
[ sing. ] a ~ (to sb/sth) a person or thing that is so bad that people connected with them or it feel or should feel ashamed :
Your homework is an absolute disgrace.
That sort of behaviour is a disgrace to the legal profession.
The state of our roads is a national disgrace.
It's a disgrace that (= it is very wrong that) they are paid so little.
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to behave badly in a way that makes you or other people feel ashamed :
I disgraced myself by drinking far too much.
He had disgraced the family name.
2.
be disgraced to lose the respect of people, usually so that you lose a position of power :
He was publicly disgraced and sent into exile.
a disgraced politician / leader
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (as a verb): via French from Italian disgrazia (noun), disgraziare (verb), from dis- (expressing reversal) + Latin gratia grace.