What's a scapegoat?

In the Bible, a SCAPEGOAT is one of two kid goats. As a pair, one goat was sacrificed (not a scapegoat) and the living ''scapegoat'' was released into the wilderness, taking with it all sins and impurities. The concept first appears in Leviticus, in which a goat is designated to be cast into the desert to carry away the sins of the community.