scapegoat

noun/ˈskeɪpɡoʊt/

Frequency rank: #11,646 most common English word

Meaning

A person who is blamed for the wrongdoings or mistakes of others.

Illustration for the English word “scapegoat”

Example sentence

The manager became the scapegoat for the entire project's failure, even though many others were responsible.

Synonyms & related words

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