scandal

/ˈskan-dᵊl/

Middle English, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense, from Greek skandalon trap, stumbling block, offense; akin to Latin scandere to climb

noun

  1. a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral conceptions or disgraces those associated with it

  2. a person whose conduct offends propriety or morality

  3. loss of or damage to reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety : disgrace

a scandal to the profession

offense sin vice crime scandal mean a transgression of law. offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code. sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

verb

  1. defame, slander

  2. disgrace

noun

  1. a newspaper or periodical dealing to a large extent in scandal and gossip