stigmatize

verb

stig·​ma·​tize ˈstig-mə-ˌtīz 

stigmatized; stigmatizing; stigmatizes

transitive verb

1

a

: to describe or regard (something, such as a characteristic or group of people) in a way that shows strong disapproval

"… Academic ableism accentuates ability and stigmatizes any weakness. …"

—Michele Cooke

The campaign strives to educate individuals and communities about mental illness to the point where they understand it well enough not to stigmatize it, which is similar to what's happened with physical illnesses over time.

—MacKenzie Tastan

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other substance use problems are considered diseases like any other, but are stigmatized as moral failure by many.

—Marcelo Campos

b

archaic : brand

2

: to mark with stigmata

stigmatization

ˌstig-mə-tə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of stigmatize in a Sentence

a legal system that stigmatizes juveniles as criminals

Recent Examples on the Web

One approach might involve allowing psychologists to include prior charges with appropriate context, ensuring these details inform evaluations without unfairly stigmatizing the youth. —Philip Caldwell, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2025

The most vulnerable are people without adequate health care coverage or without prescription drug benefits, or who feel stigmatized by their weight and don’t want to see a doctor, Timothy Mackey, a professor of global health at the University of California, San Diego, said. —Aarne Heikkila, NBC News, 17 Dec. 2024

Despite their prevalence, these conditions have historically been under-researched and stigmatized. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

People who hoard are often stigmatized as lazy or dirty. —Sarah Boden, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

stigmatize

verb

stig·​ma·​tize ˈstig-mə-ˌtīz 

stigmatized; stigmatizing

: to mark with a stigma

especially : to describe or identify as disgraceful