stigmatizeverb [ T often passive ]
UK usually stigmatise uk/ˈstɪɡ.mə.taɪz/us/ˈstɪɡ.mə.taɪz/to treat someone or something unfairly by disapproving of him, her, or it:
People should not be stigmatized on the basis of race.
More examples
- The very purpose of segregation was to stigmatize people of color -to declare them unfit to share facilities with whites.
- Many operations are performed on kids with physical flaws that are clearly stigmatizing, like misshapen breasts or ears that stick way out.
- Anybody standing in line can see when they pay with Food Stamps, and it stigmatizes them.
- They cited fears they would be stigmatized or that their military careers would be hurt.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Unfairness and favouring someone unfairly
- ableism
- arbitrary
- be a bit much idiom
- bias
- biased
- favouritism
- ghettoize
- hate crime
- inequitable
- inequity
- prejudiced
- prejudicial
- sexism
- sexist
- shortchange
- unfair
- unjust
- unprovoked
- unsportsmanlike
- you're having a laugh idiom
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stigmatization
noun [ U ] UK usually stigmatisation /ˌstɪɡ.mə.taɪˈzeɪ.ʃən//ˌstɪɡ.mə.taɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
Examples
- She kept her medical condition a secret for fear of stigmatization and discrimination.
- Mental health advocates argued that reporting these records to a federal database contributed to the stigmatization of mental illness.
- For him, the stigmatization of homosexuality at the time gave way to an intense self-loathing.
- I didn't face parental disapproval or stigmatization of any kind.
Care needs to be taken to ensure there is no stigmatization of children based on their home circumstances.