Word
disgrace
Phoneticsdis·grace, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪsˈɡɹeɪs/
UK/dɪsɡɹˈeɪs/
Definitions
01loss of respect
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of losing the respect of other people because you have done something wrong.
n. the condition of being out of favour or losing respect, typically following a moral or professional failure.
“The minister resigned in disgrace after the truth about the scandal came out.”
“He lived the remainder of his life in quiet disgrace, shunned by the very colleagues who had once praised his integrity.”
Usage
Often used with the prepositions 'in' or 'into'.
02a shameful thing
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person, thing, or situation that is so bad that it is embarrassing to everyone involved.
n. a person or thing that brings shame or discredit to a group or category.
“The state of the local hospital is a disgrace to our city.”
“The dilapidated condition of the national archives is a public disgrace that reflects a profound lack of investment in cultural heritage.”
03to bring shame upon
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to behave so badly that you make your family, team, or country feel ashamed.
v. to bring shame, dishonour, or discredit upon a person, group, or institution through one's actions.
“He was warned that his criminal behavior would disgrace his entire family.”
“The captain's refusal to follow orders did more than just lose the battle; it disgraced the entire regiment's long-standing reputation for discipline.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The long-running scandal surrounding the disgraced late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein broadened on Tuesday after the New York Times published a trove of previously unseen letters to Epstein from numerous powerful figures as well as unseen photographs from inside his Manhattan mansion.” “Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced cryptocurrency mogul who perpetrated one of the largest financial frauds in history, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $11bn in assets.” “His career ultimately ended in disgrace a decade ago when he was one of several older media personalities arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, a British police investigation arising from the sexual abuse scandal involving the television presenter Jimmy Savile.” “A payment made by Sergey Bubka, the senior vice-president of athletics’ world governing body, to a now disgraced senior figure is to be investigated by the independent Athletics Integrity Unit, the Guardian can reveal.” Etymology
From Middle French disgracier.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
In Literature
Disgrace · 1999-01-01 · Fiction
- Author:
- J. M. Coetzee
J. M. Coetzee’s Booker Prize-winning novel follows David Lurie, a South African professor who loses his job and social standing after an impulsive affair with a student. The story explores his fall from grace as he retreats to his daughter's farm, where he must confront his loss of respect in a changing society. It serves as a bleak examination of personal and political shame.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/disgrace