scandal
gb/skˈændəl/ us/skˈændəl/
B2
English
~ 5500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
widely known shocking wrongdoing case
An event where bad or illegal behavior becomes public and many people feel shocked, angry, or embarrassed.
Usage pattern:
a [type] scandal involving [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun "scandal" with the adjective "scandalous". Use "a scandal" to talk about the event ("The scandal shocked everyone"), and "scandalous" to describe something ("It was a scandalous article"). They also sometimes say *"politic scandal" instead of "political scandal".
Synonyms
controversy (Often means strong public disagreement or debate, which may not always involve clear moral or legal wrongdoing like a scandal does.)
Antonyms
non-issue (Used when something does not cause concern or public reaction, the opposite of a scandal that attracts intense negative attention.)
Collocations
political scandal
|sex scandal
|corruption scandal
|be at the center of a scandal
|the scandal broke
|cover up a scandal
Themes
politics
|media
|society
|law
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The minister resigned after a corruption scandal rocked the government.
- The company collapsed following a major accounting scandal.
- Tabloids are obsessed with celebrity sex scandals.
- The scandal broke when leaked emails were published online.
- Voters were furious about the bribery scandal involving senior officials.
Learner examples
- The politician lost his job because of a big scandal.
- There was a money scandal at the bank.
- The TV show talked about a famous football scandal.
- After the scandal, many people did not trust the company.
- New details about the scandal appeared in the newspaper.
Noun
C1
state
2
state of public disgrace
The bad name or shame a person or group has when their wrong or illegal actions become public.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s life/career ends in scandal
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that in this sense "scandal" is often uncountable or used in fixed phrases like "live down the scandal" or "end in scandal", not always with an article.
Synonyms
disgrace (Very close in meaning, but "disgrace" focuses more on the feeling or judgment itself, while "scandal" suggests that the disgrace is widely known and talked about.)
Antonyms
honor (Represents high public respect and a good reputation, the opposite of being in a state of scandal.)
Collocations
live down the scandal
|career ended in scandal
|surrounded by scandal
|resign in scandal
|leave office under a cloud of scandal
Themes
reputation
|society
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His once-promising career ended in scandal after the fraud was exposed.
- She spent years trying to escape the scandal that destroyed her public image.
- The charity has struggled to raise money since the scandal.
- The president left office in scandal and shame.
- Their name became a byword for scandal in the industry.
Learner examples
- The actor’s name is now connected with scandal.
- After the scandal, his family lived with shame.
- The company is still trying to move on from the scandal.
- They want to rebuild trust after years of scandal.
- She does not want her children to grow up in scandal.
Noun
C1
state
3
morally shocking unfair situation
Something very wrong or unfair in society that makes people feel angry and shocked, especially because nobody stops it.
Usage pattern:
it is a scandal that [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "problem" or "bad" where native speakers might choose "scandal" to stress moral shock, e.g. "It is a scandal" rather than just "It is a problem" when expressing strong moral criticism.
Synonyms
outrage (Emphasizes strong anger and shock; "scandal" here also carries the idea that the situation is morally unacceptable or shameful.)
Antonyms
point of pride (Something people feel proud of, the opposite of something viewed as a scandal or moral shame.)
Collocations
it is a scandal that
|an absolute scandal
|a national scandal
|a social scandal
Themes
society
|politics
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It is a scandal that so many children are still living in poverty.
- Many people see the lack of affordable housing as a national scandal.
- The low pay for care workers is an absolute scandal.
- Campaigners said the waiting lists were nothing short of a scandal.
- Some commentators called the failure to act on climate change a moral scandal.
Learner examples
- It is a scandal that some people cannot see a doctor for months.
- Many think it is a scandal that teachers earn so little.
- The bad state of the hospital is a scandal.
- People say the dirty river is a scandal.
- For me, it is a scandal when old people cannot get good care.
Noun
C2
entity
4
shocking or salacious gossip
Exciting talk or stories about other people’s private, bad, or shocking behavior, often like gossip.
Usage pattern:
talk about scandal
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense and say "scandal" when simple "gossip" is more natural; in modern English this use of "scandal" is less common and can sound a bit literary or old-fashioned outside set phrases like "juicy scandal".
Synonyms
gossip ("Gossip" is more general everyday talk about others; "scandal" suggests the gossip is about especially shocking or immoral behavior.)
Antonyms
discretion (Discretion involves not talking about others’ private matters, the opposite of spreading or enjoying scandal.)
Collocations
juicy scandal
|society scandal
|love of scandal
|spread scandal
|scandal sheet
Themes
gossip
|media
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- She loved hearing all the latest scandal from Hollywood.
- The magazine is full of royal scandal and rumor.
- They spent the evening trading scandal about their coworkers’ private lives.
- The tabloid thrives on scandal and sensational stories.
- He pretends to hate scandal, but he always listens closely.
Learner examples
- The TV show is about scandal in rich families.
- She enjoys reading about scandal in celebrity magazines.
- They talked about office scandal all lunch.
- The newspaper sells because it prints a lot of scandal.
- He says he does not like scandal, but he listens to it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
scandal
IPA
GB/skˈændəl/
US/skˈændəl/
Syllables & stress
scan - dal (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (scan)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: scandal
- Plural: scandal, scandals
Word family
Forms
scandals
noun
Core family
scandalous
adjective C1
scandalize
verb
Related words
scandalously
adverb
Expressions
at the center of a scandal
1/ˈæt ðə sˈɛntɚ əv ə skˈændəl/
fixed phrase
be the main focus of a scandal
To be the main person or thing people blame or talk about in a scandal.
Examples
- The minister found himself at the center of a scandal over illegal donations.
- Several banks are at the center of a scandal involving interest-rate fixing.
cause a scandal
1/kˈɔz ə skˈændəl/
fixed phrase
do something that creates a scandal
To do something bad or shocking that makes a scandal start and become public.
Examples
- The leaked photos caused a scandal that ruined his career.
- They knew the report would cause a scandal if it was published.
- Her comments caused a scandal in the local community.
end in scandal
1/ˈɛnd ˈɪn skˈændəl/
fixed phrase
finish with public disgrace
To finish in a very bad way because a scandal happens and becomes public.
Examples
- His political career ended in scandal and humiliation.
- What began as a promising project ended in scandal and resignation.
it is a scandal that
1/ˈɪt ˈɪz ə skˈændəl ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
express strong moral criticism
A set phrase used to say that something is very wrong and makes you angry or shocked.
Examples
- It is a scandal that so many families cannot afford heating.
- Many people feel it is a scandal that nurses are paid so little.