black sheep

American  

noun

1. a sheep with black fleece.

2. a person who causes shame or embarrassment because of deviation from an accepted standard of behavior.

---

black sheep British  

noun

1. a person who is regarded as a disgrace or failure by his family or peer group

---

black sheep Cultural  

1. A person who is considered a disgrace to a particular group, usually a family: “Uncle Jack, who was imprisoned for forgery, is the black sheep of the family.”

---

black sheep Idioms  

1. The least reputable member of a group; a disgrace. For example, Uncle Fritz was the black sheep of the family; we always thought he emigrated to Argentina to avoid jail. This metaphor is based on the idea that black sheep were less valuable than white ones because it was more difficult to dye their wool different colors. Also, in the 16th century, their color was considered the devil's mark. By the 18th century the term was widely used as it is today, for the odd member of a group.

---

Etymology

Origin of black sheep

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

While Magyar will only take office next month, his team has already held two rounds of talks with high-ranking EU officials as they look to bring black sheep Budapest back into the fold.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

"Both poets' words seemed as if they were written for the tribe of black sheep, outsiders trying to exist in the times they were dealt," she says.

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2025

When FTX went down, the organized crypto industry went to great lengths to paint Bankman-Fried as a black sheep.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2025

Most media took it at face value, as the Kennedys trying to discourage Democratic voters from backing their black sheep of a relative.

From Salon • Apr. 29, 2024

After I apologized to him, he lectured me about the black sheep of his family.

From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata

Related Words

• pariah