blackball

American  

[blak-bawl] / ˈblækˌbɔl /

verb (used with object)

blackballs, present (3rd person singular) blackballed, past participle, past blackballing present participle

1. to vote against (a candidate, applicant, etc.).

2. to exclude socially; ostracize.

   The whole town blackballed them.

   Synonyms:

   cut, snub, debar, ban, boycott

3. to reject (a candidate) by placing a blackball in the ballot box.

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noun

1. a negative vote, especially in deciding on an applicant or candidate.

2. a black ball placed in a ballot box signifying a negative vote.

blackball British  

/ ˈblækˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a negative vote or veto

2. a black wooden ball used to indicate disapproval or to veto in a vote

3. a hard boiled sweet with black-and-white stripes

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verb

1. to vote against in a ballot

2. to exclude (someone) from a group, profession, etc; ostracize

blackball Cultural  

1. A rejection of an applicant's membership in a private organization, such as a club or fraternity. The term is derived from the traditional practice of members voting anonymously on admitting new members, using either a white marble (acceptance) or a black marble (denial). Acceptance must be unanimous; therefore, one black marble in the ballot box is enough to keep the applicant out of the organization.

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Usage

What does blackball mean? Blackball most commonly means to blacklist someone or otherwise ban, reject, or unfairly prevent them from joining an organization or participating in something. The act of doing so can also be called a blackball. The word typically implies that the action being taken is both secretive and especially unfair or vengeful. It is often used in the context of someone being secretly blacklisted from a particular company, organization, or an entire industry. Originally, the word blackball referred to a literal black ball placed in a ballot box to indicate a negative vote—a vote against a person. It can still be used to mean a negative vote or to vote against someone. Example: Reports suggest that former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is being actively blackballed by the league for protesting police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem.

Discover More

The term is now applied generally to efforts — especially unreasonable or vengeful actions — to keep a people or groups out of organizations they wish to join.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• blackballer
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has blackballed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have blackballed
  perfect
• have been blackballing
  perfect progressive
• blackballing
  participle
• is blackballing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are blackballing
  progressive
• blackballs
  singular 3rd person
• am blackballing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been blackballing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had blackballed
  perfect
• was blackballing
  progressive singular
• had been blackballing
  perfect progressive
• were blackballing
  progressive plural
• blackballed
  participle
• blackballed
  simple

Future

• will blackball
  simple
• will have blackballed
  perfect
• will have been blackballing
  perfect progressive
• will be blackballing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of blackball

First recorded in 1760–70; black + ball ¹

Explanation

When you blackball someone, you ban him from a group. A bunch of kids who kick a tattletale out of their secret club essentially blackball him. You can use blackball as a noun or a verb — a blackball is an act of excluding or ostracizing someone. Country club members might initiate a blackball against an eccentric member who wears tie dyed t-shirts on the golf course, for example. The origin of the word goes back to the 1700s, when club members would cast secret votes on membership using white and black wooden or ivory balls. The black balls represented "no" votes.

Example Sentences

BLACKBALL, a token used for voting by ballot against the election of a candidate for membership of a club or other association.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 1 "Bisharin" to "Bohea" by Various

Related Words

• blacklist
• ostracize