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.

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black sheep British  

noun

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

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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.”

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of black sheep

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

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

Elphaba is the black sheep of her family, having been born with green skin unlike her parents.

From Salon • Dec. 5, 2024

Everyone in my family treats me like a black sheep because I’m not a doctor.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2024

"She was, like, kind of labelled the black sheep of the family," says Rae, from the UK, who spent 12 years living in the church as a disciple.

From BBC • Jan. 9, 2024

He said quietly, “There is a black sheep in every family.”

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• pariah