guilt by association

noun

A fallacy where a person or idea is judged guilty or discredited solely due to their connection to someone or something that is viewed negatively, rather than based on their own merits or actions.

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Meanings

nounguilt by association (uncountable)
  1. uncountablehuman sciencesA fallacy where a person or idea is judged guilty or discredited solely due to their connection to someone or something that is viewed negatively, rather than based on their own merits or actions.
Cite this entry
APA

guilt by association. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/guilt%20by%20association

MLA

“guilt by association.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/guilt%20by%20association. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “guilt by association,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/guilt%20by%20association.

Source: guilt by association on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.