Meaning of stigma in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈstɪɡmə/

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  1. Noun

    stigma

    Etymology

    late 16th century (denoting a mark made by pricking or branding): via Latin from Greek stigma‘a mark made by a pointed instrument, a dot’; related to stick

    Definitions

    1. the apical end of the style where deposited pollen enters the pistil
  2. 2. a symbol of disgrace or infamy

    Examples

    • « And the Lord set a mark upon Cain--Genesis »

    Derived terms

  3. 3. an external tracheal aperture in a terrestrial arthropod
  4. 4. a skin lesion that is a diagnostic sign of some disease

Famous quotes

  • « Humor can inform and break down stigma, which is a huge issue in the military. »
    Garry Trudeau
  • « The stigma that was once attached to things society deemed unhealthy served the purpose of making them undesirable. With the stigma gone, many people see little reason not to do whatever feels good at the moment. »
    Gary Bauer
  • « Men and women who have served in harm's way experience higher rates of divorce and suicide. Many battle the debilitating effects and stigma associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. »
    Ron Wyden
  • « Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of 'crackpot' than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost. »
    Chauncey Depew
  • « Growing up in the '70s and '80s, science fiction and especially fantasy had such a stigma attached to them. I felt so punished and exiled for being devoted to these things. »
    Lev Grossman

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