Definition of "scandal" []

• A publicized incident that brings about disgrace or offends the moral sensibilities of society: a drug scandal that forced the mayor's resignation. (noun)
• A person, thing, or circumstance that causes or ought to cause disgrace or outrage: a politician whose dishonesty is a scandal; considered the housing shortage a scandal. (noun)
• Damage to reputation or character caused by public disclosure of immoral or grossly improper behavior; disgrace. (noun)
• Talk that is damaging to one's character; malicious gossip. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "He wrote at a time when the word scandal applied to poverty, hunger, homelessness, and injustice."
• "The use of the word scandal in the sentence is a big mistake."
• "From this point forward, the word scandal will not appear."