# stigma

/ˈstɪɡmə/ (US) · /stˈɪɡmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stigma
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. part of a flower

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the top part of the centre of a flower where pollen is received.

For teachers: the receptive tip of a carpel, or of several fused carpels, in the gynoecium of a flower.

- Bees carry pollen from one flower and drop it onto the stigma of another.
- The stigma is often sticky or hairy to ensure that pollen grains transferred by insects remain in place for germination.

### 3. medical sign

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a physical mark or sign on the body that shows someone has a specific disease.

For teachers: a visible sign or characteristic of a disease or a physical abnormality.

- The doctor looked for physical stigmas that might suggest a liver problem.
- Clinical examination revealed several cutaneous stigmas associated with chronic nutritional deficiency.

### 4. Greek letter

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a special symbol used in the Greek alphabet to represent the letters 's' and 't' together.

For teachers: a ligature of the Greek letters sigma and tau, used in some historical texts and as a numeral for six.

- The old manuscript used a stigma instead of writing the two letters separately.
- In Greek gematria, the stigma is used to represent the number six, though it is rarely encountered in modern typography.

## Examples

- There is still a stigma attached to asking for help with money.
- The new public health campaign aims to reduce the stigma around mental illness so that more people feel comfortable seeking therapy.
- Despite decades of progressive legislation, the stigma of bankruptcy continues to haunt entrepreneurs, often deterring them from taking the calculated risks necessary for innovation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.