scapegoat
scape|goat /sk'eɪpgoʊt/ (scapegoats scapegoating scapegoated)
1 [N-COUNT] oft N for n
If you say that someone is made a scapegoat for something bad that has happened, you mean that people blame them and may punish them for it although it may not be their fault.
I don't deserve to be made the scapegoat for a couple of bad results.
2 [VERB] V n
To scapegoat someone means to blame them publicly for something bad that has happened, even though it was not their fault.
Ethnic minorities are continually scapegoated for the lack of jobs.
1 [N-COUNT] oft N for n
If you say that someone is made a scapegoat for something bad that has happened, you mean that people blame them and may punish them for it although it may not be their fault.
I don't deserve to be made the scapegoat for a couple of bad results.
2 [VERB] V n
To scapegoat someone means to blame them publicly for something bad that has happened, even though it was not their fault.
Ethnic minorities are continually scapegoated for the lack of jobs.