- Today's Word
Ignominious
ig-nuh-MIN-ee-uhs
Definition
- (adjective) Deserving or causing public disgrace, shame, or humiliation.
Example
The team suffered an ignominious defeat after losing by a record-breaking margin.
Fun Fact
“Ignominious” comes from the Latin ignominia, which combines in- (“not”) and nomen (“name” or “reputation”), meaning “without a good name.” Throughout history, ignominious punishments—such as public shaming—were used to enforce social order. Today, the word is often used to describe humiliating losses, scandals, or embarrassing failures.
(adjective) Distant from the ordinary; elevated, refined, or thin (as in air at high altitudes).
The scientist’s rarefied theories fascinated her peers but left the public scratching their heads.
From Latin rarefacere, meaning “to make thin.”