ˈstig-mə-tə
Bob GaydosBrian X. ChenPaul Taylor
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Stigma was borrowed from Latin stigmat- , stigma, meaning "mark, brand," and ultimately comes from Greek stizein, meaning "to tattoo." Earliest English use hews close to the word's origin: stigma in English first referred to a scar left by a hot iron—that is, a brand. In modern use the scar is figurative: stigma most often refers to a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something—for example, people talk about the stigma associated with mental illness, or the stigma of poverty. When the plural form stigmata is used, the context is frequently religious: stigmata typically refers to bodily marks or pains resembling the wounds of the crucified Jesus and sometimes accompanying religious ecstasy. The first person said to have experienced this miraculous infliction of stigmata is St. Francis of Assisi, in the 13th century.
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Examples of stigma in a Sentence
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
Other military initiatives to address the increase include improving access to mental health care and reducing stigma and obstacles to service members seeking care.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024
But the battle is also taking a mental toll that, due to stigma, is largely hidden from view.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 21 Oct. 2024
As the stigma around ADHD continues to wane and healthcare providers become better equipped to evaluate and treat the condition, that trend may continue.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Stigma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stigma. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stigma
noun
ˈstig-mət-ə
or stigmas
Medical Definition
stigma
noun
ˈstig-mət-ə
or stigmas
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