Definition and pronunciation
stigma /ˈstɪɡ.mə/ — noun: a mark of shame, disapproval, or disgrace associated with a particular condition, behavior, identity, or quality.
Easy explanation
A stigma is when society judges something as shameful or bad, even if it shouldn’t be. For example, there is stigma around mental illness, HIV/AIDS, or non-traditional sexual identities.
Grammatical formation
- Noun: stigma (plural: stigmas or stigmata, depending on context).
- Adjective: stigmatized.
- Verb: to stigmatize.
- Noun (process): stigmatization.
Meanings and nuances
- Social judgment — a negative label placed on people for their identity, condition, or behavior.
- Cultural disapproval — long-lasting taboos or stereotypes (e.g., stigma around divorce).
- Medical/religious use — in Christianity, stigmata = marks resembling Christ’s wounds (rare meaning today).
- Emotional weight — stigma leads to shame, silence, and marginalization.
With prepositions and variants
- stigma against: “There is still a stigma against mental illness.”
- stigma of: “The stigma of HIV remains strong.”
- free from stigma: “They wanted a life free from stigma.”
Common collocations
social stigma, cultural stigma, mental health stigma, HIV stigma, sexual stigma, stigma attached to, stigma of poverty, stigma reduction
Idioms and neighboring expressions
- “mark of shame”
- “black mark”
- “carry a burden” (figurative use)
Word comparisons
- stigma vs taboo: taboo = forbidden practice; stigma = shame tied to it.
- stigma vs stereotype: stereotype = oversimplified belief; stigma = negative judgment and exclusion.
- stigma vs discrimination: stigma = social judgment; discrimination = action taken based on stigma.
Real-life examples
- “The stigma of mental illness prevents people from seeking help.”
- “There is less stigma around therapy today.”
- “HIV once carried a huge stigma.”
- “Divorce used to be a social stigma in many cultures.”
- “The organization works to reduce stigma around sexuality.”
Sample sentences
- “The stigma of poverty followed him for years.”
- “She fought against the stigma of single motherhood.”
- “There is still a stigma around talking about sex.”
- “The stigma of addiction prevents treatment.”
- “They aim to end the stigma against HIV patients.”
- “He carried the stigma of being labeled a failure.”
- “Social stigma isolates minority groups.”
- “Reducing stigma helps mental health awareness.”
- “She broke the stigma by speaking publicly.”
- “Cultural stigma often leads to silence.”
Synonyms
shame, disgrace, disapproval, taint, blemish, dishonor, prejudice, mark of shame, humiliation
Antonyms
honor, pride, respect, dignity, acceptance, approval, esteem, recognition
Related terms
taboo, stereotype, discrimination, shame, prejudice, exclusion, marginalization
Connection to sexuality
Yes. Stigma is deeply connected to sexuality. Many cultures attach stigma to premarital sex, homosexuality, HIV/AIDS, sex work, or non-traditional relationships. Fighting sexual stigma is a core issue in human rights, health, and gender equality.
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