Explanation at your level:
A blemish is a small mark. If you have a clean shirt and get a spot on it, you blemish the shirt. It makes it not perfect anymore. You use this word when something was good, but now has a small problem.
When you blemish something, you make it look less beautiful. Imagine a perfect apple with a small brown spot. That spot blemishes the apple. We also use it for people's names or records to show they made a mistake.
To blemish is to spoil the appearance or quality of something. It is often used for things that are supposed to be perfect, like a clean record. For example, 'The loss blemished their perfect season.' It is a formal way to say something was damaged.
Using blemish as a verb implies a loss of integrity. It is common in formal contexts, such as discussing a politician's career or a company's reputation. It suggests that while the object is not destroyed, it is no longer 'flawless' because of a specific, negative event.
In advanced English, blemish is used to describe the subtle erosion of perfection. It carries a nuanced tone—often used in literary or analytical writing to describe how a single moral or aesthetic failure can cast a shadow over a larger, positive body of work. It is distinct from 'damage' because it specifically targets the idealized state of the subject.
At the C2 level, blemish functions as a precise tool for critique. It is frequently employed in discussions regarding legacy, ethics, and aesthetics. One might speak of a 'blemished reputation' or a 'blemished historical record' to denote a permanent, albeit perhaps minor, stain on an otherwise distinguished narrative. Its etymological roots in 'paleness' or 'discoloration' inform its usage in describing how a bright, untarnished image is dimmed by a singular, discordant element.
30초 단어
- It means to spoil or mark.
- Used for physical objects and reputations.
- Often implies a loss of perfection.
- Formal and sophisticated tone.
Hey there! Think of blemish as the word for that one little thing that messes up a perfect situation. Whether it is a physical mark on a shiny surface or a small mistake in a person's history, it is all about that loss of perfection.
When you use blemish as a verb, you are describing the action of causing that flaw. It is a very specific word because it implies that the thing being touched was previously in a state of high quality or purity. It is like spilling juice on a crisp white shirt; you have effectively blemished the fabric.
In a more serious sense, we talk about blemishing a reputation. If a professional athlete who has never had a scandal suddenly gets into trouble, people might say that incident has blemished their otherwise stellar career. It is a powerful way to describe how one small detail can change the perception of the whole.
The history of blemish is quite fascinating! It traces back to the Old French word blemissant, which was a form of the verb blemir, meaning to make pale or to injure.
Interestingly, the root of blemir is thought to be Germanic, related to the word for 'pale' or 'yellow.' In medieval times, the idea was that an injury or a mark would cause the skin to lose its healthy color, hence the connection to paleness.
By the time it entered Middle English, the meaning shifted slightly from just 'making pale' to 'soiling' or 'disfiguring.' It is a great example of how words travel across borders and change their nuance over hundreds of years. You are basically using a word that has been evolving since the Middle Ages to describe modern-day mistakes!
Using blemish requires a bit of care because it is a slightly formal word. You probably wouldn't use it to describe dropping a plate in the kitchen—that is just 'breaking' or 'cracking.' Instead, use it for things that are meant to be 'pristine' or 'flawless.'
Common collocations include blemish a reputation, blemish a record, or blemish the surface. These phrases highlight the contrast between the perfect state and the new, flawed state.
It is often used in journalism or formal writing. If you are writing an essay about a historical figure, saying their legacy was blemished by a specific event sounds much more sophisticated than saying it was 'ruined' or 'messed up.' It adds a layer of weight and precision to your language.
While blemish itself isn't the star of many common idioms, it appears in phrases describing perfection. 1. Without a blemish: Meaning completely perfect. 2. A blemish on one's character: A moral failing. 3. To leave a blemish: To cause lasting damage. 4. Free of blemish: Often used for high-quality goods. 5. A stain or blemish: Often used together to describe a tarnished reputation.
As a verb, blemish follows regular conjugation: blemishes, blemished, blemishing. It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object—you must blemish something.
The pronunciation is two syllables: BLEM-ish. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like famish and skirmish. It is a very satisfying word to say because of the crisp 'sh' sound at the end.
Fun Fact
It traces back to a Germanic word for 'yellow' or 'pale'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'blem' followed by short 'ish'.
Similar to UK, short 'e' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'blame-ish'
- Missing the 'sh' sound
- Stressing the second syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Moderate
Advanced
Moderate
Moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
I blemished the car.
Passive Voice
The car was blemished.
Adjective formation
un- + blemish + -ed
Examples by Level
The dirt will blemish the white rug.
dirt = soil, white rug = carpet
Verb usage
Do not blemish the clean paper.
clean paper = empty sheet
Imperative
The mark did blemish the wall.
mark = spot
Past tense
He did not want to blemish his book.
book = storybook
Infinitive
Rain can blemish the paint.
paint = wall color
Modal verb
She tried not to blemish the dress.
dress = clothing
Infinitive
The ink will blemish the desk.
ink = pen liquid
Future tense
Did you blemish the glass?
glass = window
Question form
The scratch will blemish the new car.
Don't let this mistake blemish your good work.
The oil did blemish the kitchen floor.
Small spots blemish the fruit.
The scandal did blemish the leader's name.
She feared the lie would blemish her record.
The smoke did blemish the bright ceiling.
Careless handling can blemish the antique.
The incident threatened to blemish his reputation.
His perfect record was blemished by one defeat.
Don't let a bad day blemish your positive attitude.
The rust began to blemish the metal gate.
The controversy did not blemish her standing in the community.
A single typo can blemish an otherwise perfect essay.
The harsh weather helped blemish the stone statue.
She worried that the rumor would blemish her family's name.
The court case served to blemish the corporation's public image.
His legacy remains unblemished despite the recent accusations.
The architect refused to let the design be blemished by cheap materials.
The athlete's career was blemished by a doping scandal.
The pristine landscape was blemished by the new factory.
Her honesty was never blemished by greed.
The beauty of the painting was not blemished by age.
The integrity of the report was blemished by biased data.
The candidate's campaign was blemished by allegations of financial misconduct.
The historical record is often blemished by the biases of the time.
A single moment of weakness can blemish a lifetime of virtue.
The author's reputation was blemished by his controversial late-career works.
The purity of the symphony was blemished by the audience's noise.
The diplomatic process was blemished by a lack of transparency.
The artist's vision was never blemished by commercial pressure.
The treaty was blemished by clauses that favored only one nation.
The moral fabric of the society was blemished by systemic corruption.
Even the most sublime architecture can be blemished by poor urban planning.
His scholarly reputation was irrevocably blemished by the plagiarism scandal.
The film's artistic merit was blemished by a lackluster third act.
The serene atmosphere was blemished by the intrusion of modern technology.
The legacy of the revolution was blemished by subsequent authoritarianism.
The integrity of the scientific study was blemished by cherry-picked statistics.
The sanctity of the ritual was blemished by the presence of unauthorized observers.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"without a blemish"
perfect
Her record is without a blemish.
neutral"a blemish on the landscape"
something ugly
That building is a blemish on the landscape.
casual"to be beyond blemish"
perfect/above reproach
He thinks he is beyond blemish.
formal"a blemish in the record"
a mistake in history
There is a small blemish in his record.
neutral"to remove the blemish"
to fix a mistake
He worked hard to remove the blemish from his name.
neutral"a minor blemish"
a small, unimportant flaw
It is just a minor blemish on an otherwise great day.
neutralEasily Confused
Sounds similar.
Blame is about responsibility; blemish is about marks.
Don't blame me for the blemish.
Similar meaning.
Mar is more general; blemish is often for beauty/reputation.
The rain marred the day.
Similar meaning.
Tarnish is specific to metal or reputation.
The silver tarnished.
Both mean imperfection.
Flaw is usually a noun; blemish can be a verb.
The diamond has a flaw.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + verb + object
The rain blemished the paint.
Subject + was + blemished + by + agent
The record was blemished by the loss.
Subject + refused + to + let + object + be + blemished
He refused to let his work be blemished.
It + is + a + blemish + on + noun
It is a blemish on his character.
Nothing + could + blemish + object
Nothing could blemish her joy.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
6/10
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
Blemish implies a small flaw, not total destruction.
Blame means to hold responsible; blemish means to mark.
Ensure subject-verb agreement.
Blemish is quite formal.
The sounds are similar, but meanings are distinct.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a mirror with one spot on it.
Native Speakers
Use it to sound more precise in essays.
Cultural Insight
Often used in beauty ads.
Grammar Shortcut
Always needs an object.
Say It Right
Stress the first syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for total destruction.
Did You Know?
It means 'pale' in its root.
Study Smart
Learn it with 'unblemished'.
Writing Tip
Use it for historical legacies.
Speaking Tip
Use it when describing quality.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
BLEMish = BE-LESS-perfect.
Visual Association
A shiny red apple with a tiny brown spot.
Word Web
챌린지
Try to find 3 things in your room that are 'blemished'.
어원
Old French
Original meaning: to make pale or to injure
문화적 맥락
None, but can be personal when referring to someone's character.
Often used in formal writing or critiques.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at school
- blemish on my report card
- blemish the record
at work
- blemish the company's image
- blemish the project
in beauty/fashion
- blemish-free skin
- remove a blemish
in history/politics
- blemish the legacy
- blemish the reputation
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever had a perfect record that was blemished?"
"What is the biggest blemish on your favorite movie?"
"Can a small mistake really blemish a whole career?"
"How do you keep your things from getting blemished?"
"Is it possible to be 'unblemished' in life?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt your reputation was blemished.
Describe an object you own that is blemished.
Can a blemish actually make something more beautiful?
Reflect on a 'blemish' in history.
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문It is both!
You blemish their reputation, not the person directly.
It is common in writing but less common in casual speech.
Enhance or perfect.
No, it means to mark or spoil.
Yes, 'a blemished apple'.
Yes, it sounds more sophisticated than 'spoil'.
BLEM-ish.
셀프 테스트
The dirt will ___ the white shirt.
Blemish means to mark or spoil.
Which word means to spoil something?
Blemish is the synonym for spoil.
A blemish is a good thing.
A blemish is a flaw or mark.
Word
뜻
Matching synonyms and opposites.
His record was blemished.
The scandal ___ his reputation.
Blemished fits the context of reputation.
You can blemish a reputation.
Yes, it is a common figurative usage.
Which is an antonym?
Enhance means to improve.
The integrity was blemished by lies.
His legacy remains ___ despite the rumors.
Unblemished means perfect.
점수: /10
Summary
To blemish is to leave a small mark that ruins the perfection of something.
- It means to spoil or mark.
- Used for physical objects and reputations.
- Often implies a loss of perfection.
- Formal and sophisticated tone.
Memory Palace
Imagine a mirror with one spot on it.
Native Speakers
Use it to sound more precise in essays.
Cultural Insight
Often used in beauty ads.
Grammar Shortcut
Always needs an object.
예시
A single scratch on the hood of the luxury car will blemish its overall aesthetic value.
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