Guilt By Association (Noun)
Meaning
The attribution of guilt (without proof) to individuals because the people they associate with are guilty.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- She lost her job due to guilt by association when it was discovered that her brother was involved in a corruption scandal.
- Many friends and acquaintances of the dictator have been subjected to guilt by association since his regime was toppled.
- He suffered professionally as a result of guilt by association when his business partner was charged with tax evasion.
- In a society prone to hysteria and finger-pointing, guilt by association often replaces objective fact-finding.
- His daughter faced backlash at school after it emerged that her uncle had been arrested on terrorism charges, a clear case of guilt by association.