1. marks resembling the wounds of the crucified Christ, believed to appear miraculously on the bodies of certain devout people
Usage: religious; plural form
2. marks of disgrace or shame associated with a particular condition or quality
Usage: formal

Examples

• The saint was said to bear the stigmata on her hands and feet.
• Medical experts examined the stigmata that appeared on the monk’s body.
• The stigmata of mental illness still affects how patients are treated in some communities.
• She bore the stigmata of poverty throughout her childhood.
• The stigmata associated with addiction prevent many from seeking help.
• Religious pilgrims came to witness the stigmata on the mystic’s palms.