What does embarrassment mean?
Embarrassment is a noun describing the uncomfortable feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness that arises when someone does or experiences something socially awkward, foolish, or improper. It can refer either to the emotion itself — as in 'she blushed with embarrassment' — or to the person, event, or situation that provokes it, as in 'his behaviour is an embarrassment to his colleagues'. The word carries a strongly negative connotation, though it usually denotes mild social discomfort rather than deep disgrace, for which stronger terms like humiliation are preferred. In older and chiefly British usage, it could also mean financial hardship. An interesting exception is the idiom 'an embarrassment of riches', which ironically describes having more good things than one can manage. Embarrassment entered English in the early eighteenth century from French, tracing back ultimately to Italian words meaning to bar or impede — so to be embarrassed was once, quite literally, to be blocked or hindered.
A feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness caused by something socially awkward, foolish, or inappropriate.
"He turned red with embarrassment when the teacher read his note aloud."
A person, thing, or situation that causes such a feeling.
"The team's defeat became a national embarrassment."
In this sense the noun is countable and often takes 'to': 'an embarrassment to someone'.
Rarely used; the plural appears mainly in older or formal writing, often in reference to difficulties or hardships rather than social feelings.
"He weathered many financial embarrassments in his later years."
English borrowed 'embarrassment' from French, which took it from Spanish 'embarazar' — literally 'to bar the way', from an Italian word meaning to impede or block. To be embarrassed was originally to be obstructed or hampered.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of embarrassment
Embarrassment derives from the verb embarrass, borrowed into English from French embarrasser in the late seventeenth century, with the noun form attested from the early eighteenth century. The French word came from Spanish embarazar, whose origin lies in Portuguese and Italian forms based on Latin barra ('bar') via an Italian verb meaning to impede or block — literally 'to bar'. Thus embarrassment originally conveyed being obstructed or hampered before narrowing to its modern sense of social discomposure. Cognates include the Spanish embarazo (pregnancy) and the related English word barrage, from the same root barra.
How embarrassment is actually used
Embarrassment is an uncountable noun when referring to the feeling ('she hid her embarrassment'), but countable when referring to instances of it ('an embarrassment to the family'). The phrase 'an embarrassment of riches' is idiomatic and describes an overabundance — an ironic, positive use of an otherwise negative word.
Easily confused with embarrassment
The correct spelling has two r's and two s's — 'embarrassment', never 'embarassment'.
Harassment refers to persistent aggressive pressure or intimidation toward someone, whereas embarrassment is a feeling of social discomfort or shame; the two words are also often confused in spelling.