noun
scoundrel
SKOWND-ruhl
noun
1
A dishonest or unprincipled person; a rogue or villain.
"The scoundrel ran off with the charity funds."
"He was branded a scoundrel after cheating his business partners."
How to Use Scoundrel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA word for someone who behaves dishonestly or without honour, usually used half-jokingly today.
When to use it
Slightly old-fashioned and often used with a touch of humor rather than genuine anger.
Common pairings
a lying scoundrel
a rank scoundrel
call someone a scoundrel
Word Forms
scoundrels plural
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Etymology
First recorded in the 1500s in forms like scondrel; its ultimate origin is unclear, though it may be linked to an old northern English or Scots word meaning to shrink back in fear or disgust.