guilt by association

Cultural  

1. The attribution of guilt to individuals because of the people or organizations with which they associate, rather than because of any crime that they have committed.

---

Example Sentences

But a criminal case requires evidence that can be proved, not mere guilt by association.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

For starters, the U.S. government’s allegations against the firms aren’t merely guilt by association.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

“His critics continue to engage in guilt by association for comments that were not his,” De León’s attorney said in a lawsuit targeting two people whom De León suspected of making the recording.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2024

This allowed the researchers to group genes into common clusters that revealed the role of each gene through "guilt by association."

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

Oh, that's pretty remote guilt by association, Colin.

From Sentiment, Inc. by Anderson, Poul William