blackball

American  

[blak-bawl] / ˈblækˌbɔl /

verb (used with object)

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

• blackballer noun

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

“Bye, bye,” Ms. Wiles posted on Sunday on social media about her erstwhile boss, who had tried to blackball her from Republican politics.

From New York Times • Jan. 22, 2024

And somebody — I won’t say who — that was within my representation at the time said “If you don’t do it, CBS will never work with you again. They’ll blackball you.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2021

Regarding the charge from many of his accusers that he threatened to derail their careers if they spoke out: “I couldn’t blackball anybody, because if I said, ‘Don’t use that actress’ .

From Washington Post • Mar. 11, 2020

NBA superstars like LeBron James and Steph Curry are impervious to this kind of treatment, in part because the NBA didn’t campaign to blackball them.

From The Guardian • Dec. 5, 2019

I eventually reached her husband through his importers’ association, which would later blackball him for undercutting his fellow members.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Related Words

• blacklist
• ostracize