Etymology Map
Back to all words

Scandal

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means an event causing public outrage

Where does the word "scandal" come from? It comes from Greek skandalon, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
skandalon
Greek · ancient
"trap"
a snare or trap; in the New Testament a stumbling block
2
Stage 2 of 3
scandalum
Late Latin · ancient
"cause of offence"
cause of offence in the church
3
Stage 3 of 3
scandal
English · 1500s
"public outrage"
also gave 'slander' through a different French route
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Scandal’s story begins in Greek: skandalon meant “trap.” A snare or trap; in the New Testament a stumbling block. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as scandalum. Cause of offence in the church. It reached English by 1500s as scandal. Also gave 'slander' through a different French route. Today, scandal means an event causing public outrage.