blackmail

[ blak-meyl ]

noun

1. any payment extorted by intimidation, as by threats of injurious revelations or accusations.
2. the extortion of such payment:

   He confessed rather than suffer the dishonor of blackmail.

3. a tribute formerly exacted in the north of England and in Scotland by freebooting chiefs for protection from pillage.

verb (used with object)

1. to extort money from (a person) by the use of threats.
2. to force or coerce into a particular action, statement, etc.:

   The strikers claimed they were blackmailed into signing the new contract.

blackmail

/ ˈblækˌmeɪl /

noun

1. the act of attempting to obtain money by intimidation, as by threats to disclose discreditable information
2. the exertion of pressure or threats, esp unfairly, in an attempt to influence someone's actions

verb

1. to exact or attempt to exact (money or anything of value) from (a person) by threats or intimidation; extort
2. to attempt to influence the actions of (a person), esp by unfair pressure or threats

Derived Forms

• ˈblackmailer, noun

Other Words From

• blackmailer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blackmail¹

First recorded in 1545–55; black + mail ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of blackmail¹

C16: see black , mail ³

Example Sentences

Plus, his known drug dealings certainly made him vulnerable to blackmail.

From The Daily Beast

Americans are giving in to North Korean blackmail—and it will only get worse.

From The Daily Beast

Back in England, Hitchcock made the transition from silents to sound with Blackmail, Britain's first talkie.

From The Daily Beast

VanDyke confirmed the attack on his website, writing that SEA had emailed him a blackmail threat.

From The Daily Beast

The more accomplished students took classes in safe-cracking, burglary, blackmail, and confidence games.

From The Daily Beast

If this stinking quartet takes it into its head to levy annual blackmail, where is the money coming from?

From Project Gutenberg

Bois l'Hery's horses were unsound, Schwalbach's gallery was a swindle, Moessard's articles a recognised blackmail.

From Project Gutenberg

The only possible scandal lies in the fact that Mrs. Withers paid blackmail for years.

From Project Gutenberg

He attempted to blackmail my father, as he had already done so many times, but his scheme was frustrated.

From Project Gutenberg

All the American press is not founded upon this system of virtual blackmail.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bribe
• bribery
• extortion