What does scapegoat mean?
A person or group made to bear the blame for others or to take the blame for a wrong or a failure. A goat that is released into the wilderness on Yom Kippur, symbolizing the transfer of sins.
Example
"The company's financial troubles were blamed on the new CEO, who was made the scapegoat for the board's poor decisions."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.