Ignominious

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Ignominious

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adjective

Pronunciation

ig-nuh-MIN-ee-us  /ˌɪɡnəˈmɪnɪəs/

Definition

Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame; humiliating; involving a shameful failure or defeat.

Plain meaning

Ignominious means deeply humiliating and shameful, usually in public. An ignominious defeat is not just a loss but a humiliating one. An ignominious retreat is one that brings shame. The word suggests both the fact of failure and the public disgrace that accompanies it. It is a formal, literary word.

Register

Formal and literary. Ignominious is used in written English, particularly in historical, political, and journalistic contexts where the formal Latin weight of the word adds gravity to a description of disgrace. It would be unusual in casual conversation; dishonourable or shameful serve similar purposes in less formal registers.