noun
Definition: A person or thing that is unfairly blamed for problems or negative outcomes, often to divert attention from the real cause.
Example: In the team meeting, John became the scapegoat for the project's failure, even though others were also responsible.
transitive verb
Definition: To blame someone or something for problems or mistakes that they did not cause, often to divert attention from the real issue.
Example: The manager scapegoated the intern for the project's failure, even though the problems were due to his own decisions.