stigmatist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal / Specialized (Theological / Historical / Medical)
Quick answer
What does “stigmatist” mean?
A person who bears stigmata (marks resembling the wounds of Christ's crucifixion).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who bears stigmata (marks resembling the wounds of Christ's crucifixion).
A person who is marked with stigmata, typically as a result of religious ecstasy or intense spiritual experience, or, in a broader historical context, one who is branded or marked as an outcast or criminal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling.
Connotations
Identical religious/historical connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US English, found primarily in theological texts, histories of religion, or hagiographies.
Grammar
How to Use “stigmatist” in a Sentence
[stigmatist] + [of] + [Saint/Name][the] + [stigmatist] + [experienced/received/bore]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stigmatist” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The stigmatist phenomena were documented by the Vatican.
American English
- The stigmatist experience was central to her mystical writings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, history, and occasionally psychology/psychiatry for case studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Specialized term in mystical theology and certain branches of hagiography.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stigmatist”
- Using it to mean 'a person who stigmatizes others'. (That is 'stigmatizer'.)
- Confusing it with the more common adjective 'stigmatic'.
- Assuming it has a common, non-religious meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They can be synonymous nouns. However, 'stigmatic' is also commonly used as an adjective (e.g., 'stigmatic wounds'), while 'stigmatist' is only a noun.
No. The correct word for that meaning is 'stigmatizer' or 'stigmatiser'.
No, it is a very rare and specialized term. Most native English speakers will not know it unless they have an interest in religious history.
'Stigmata' are the physical marks or wounds themselves. A 'stigmatist' is the person who bears or experiences these stigmata.
A person who bears stigmata (marks resembling the wounds of Christ's crucifixion).
Stigmatist is usually formal / specialized (theological / historical / medical) in register.
Stigmatist: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɪɡmətɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɪɡmətɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A STIGMA-tist has STIGMA-ta on their wrists (like Christ).
Conceptual Metaphor
BODY AS A SITE OF SACRED SUFFERING.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary, modern meaning of 'stigmatist'?