scarlet letter
The term "scarlet letter" originates from Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 novel, where it symbolizes public shaming and stigma.
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Definition
C1Historical
(literary, historical)A red letter 'A' worn as a punishment for adultery in 17th-century Puritan New England.
Example
- In Puritan New England, those convicted of adultery were forced to wear a scarlet letter as a mark of shame.
B2Figurative
(metaphorical)A visible symbol of public shame or stigma for any perceived wrongdoing.
Example
- Being caught cheating on the test was like wearing a scarlet letter in front of her classmates.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "scarlet letter":