First Known Use: 1540
Dictionary
ignominy
noun ig·no·mi·ny \ˈig-nə-ˌmi-nē, -mə-nē also ig-ˈnä-mə-nē\
: a situation or event that causes you to feel ashamed or embarrassed
plural ig·no·mi·nies
Full Definition of IGNOMINY
1
: deep personal humiliation and disgrace
2
: disgraceful or dishonorable conduct, quality, or action
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Origin of IGNOMINY
Middle French or Latin; Middle French ignominie, from Latin ignominia, from ig- (as in ignorare to be ignorant of, ignore) + nomin-, nomen name, repute — more at name
Related to IGNOMINY
Synonym Discussion of IGNOMINY
disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, infamy, ignominy mean the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach. disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism <sent home in disgrace>. dishonor emphasizes the loss of honor that one has enjoyed or the loss of self-esteem <preferred death to life with dishonor>. disrepute stresses loss of one's good name or the acquiring of a bad reputation <a once proud name fallen into disrepute>. infamy usually implies notoriety as well as exceeding shame <a day that lives in infamy>. ignominy stresses humiliation <the ignominy of being arrested>.
Rhymes with IGNOMINY
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