Word
scoundrel
US/ˈskaʊndɹəɫ/
UK/skˈaʊndɹəl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who behaves badly or treats others unfairly. You use this word for someone who is dishonest and lacks a sense of duty or honor.
n. a person who lacks principles or behaves in a dishonest and unscrupulous manner. Often carries a slightly old-fashioned or literary tone in modern usage.
Examples
“That scoundrel stole my money and disappeared.”
“The protagonist spent the first half of the novel as a charming scoundrel before finally deciding to help the village.”
“History remembers him not as a hero, but as a self-serving scoundrel who betrayed his allies for personal gain during the height of the conflict.”
Examples
simple
“That scoundrel stole my money and disappeared.”
contextual
“The protagonist spent the first half of the novel as a charming scoundrel before finally deciding to help the village.”
complex
“History remembers him not as a hero, but as a self-serving scoundrel who betrayed his allies for personal gain during the height of the conflict.”
Real-World Examples
“What he meant was that the scoundrel, having worn all other cloaks of virtue until they are threadbare, dons the patriotic one to hide his shamelessness.” “If, however, it’s you that’s the scoundrel – you’re having an affair or have just “gone off” someone nice who seems to love you – try not to be too much of a twit about it.” “Karl Marx later referred to his former friend as ‘a scoundrel, pure and simple’.” Etymology
The word scoundrel first appeared in English in the late 1500s (around the 1580s), spelled skowndrell or scondrel, meaning a base, mean, or worthless fellow. Its modern sense is an unscrupulous rascal. Its exact origin remains officially unknown, but two main theories exist: one links it to the Anglo-French escoundre ("to hide," from Latin condere), though the long time gap weakens this idea; the other connects it to Old English scunian ("to shun") or Scottish scunner ("to shrink back in disgust"), but early uses are distinctly English rather than Scottish.
Original etymology written by Shinotoshi Nakamura.
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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