stigmatise
Meaning: To regard or treat someone or something as worthy of disgrace or strong disapproval; to mark with a stigma or brand of shame.
Stigmatise describes the social process of attaching negative labels to individuals, groups, or conditions. It is central to debates about mental health, disability, poverty, and social justice. The passive form — 'stigmatised' — is particularly common: 'people stigmatised by their diagnosis.' The noun 'stigma' and adjective 'stigmatised' appear far more frequently than the verb itself. Common collocations include 'stigmatise mental illness,' 'stigmatised groups,' and 'unfairly stigmatised.'
Examples
- Campaigners argue that outdated language continues to stigmatise people with mental health conditions. 活动家认为,过时的语言仍在继续给心理健康疾病患者贴上污名的标签。Los activistas sostienen que un lenguaje anticuado sigue estigmatizando a las personas con problemas de salud mental.活動家たちは、時代遅れの言葉づかいが精神的な健康問題を抱える人々を今なお烙印を押し続けていると主張する。활동가들은 시대에 뒤떨어진 언어가 정신 건강 문제를 가진 사람들에게 여전히 낙인을 찍고 있다고 주장한다.
- Single mothers have been unfairly stigmatised by sections of the tabloid press for decades. 单身母亲数十年来一直受到部分小报媒体的不公正污名化。Las madres solteras han sido injustamente estigmatizadas por sectores de la prensa sensacionalista durante décadas.シングルマザーは何十年もの間、タブロイド紙の一部から不当に汚名を着せられてきた。미혼모는 수십 년간 타블로이드 언론 일부로부터 부당하게 낙인찍혀 왔다.
- The charity works to challenge the attitudes that stigmatise those living with the disease. 该慈善机构致力于挑战那些歧视疾病患者的态度。La organización benéfica trabaja para combatir las actitudes que estigmatizan a quienes viven con la enfermedad.その慈善団体は、その病気とともに生きる人々を烙印を押す態度に異議を唱える活動を行っている。그 자선단체는 그 질병과 함께 살아가는 사람들에게 낙인을 찍는 태도에 이의를 제기하는 활동을 하고 있다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: social, medical, journalism
Tone: critical
Origin & History
From Greek stigmatizein (to mark with a pointed instrument), from stigma (mark, brand), originally a mark made by pricking. The Greek stigma referred to a brand placed on slaves or criminals. Entered English in the late 16th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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