blacklist

American  

[blak-list] / ˈblækˌlɪst /

noun

1. a list of persons under suspicion, disfavor, censure, etc..

   His record as an anarchist put him on the government's blacklist.

2. a list privately exchanged among employers, containing the names of persons to be barred from employment because of untrustworthiness or for holding opinions considered undesirable.

3. a list drawn up by a labor union, containing the names of employers to be boycotted for unfair labor practices.

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verb (used with object)

1. to put (a person, group, company, etc.) on a blacklist.

   Synonyms:

   ostracize, shun, ban, proscribe, debar, bar, blackball

blacklist British  

/ ˈblækˌlɪst /

noun

1. a list of persons or organizations under suspicion, or considered untrustworthy, disloyal, etc, esp one compiled by a government or an organization

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verb

1. (tr) to put on a blacklist

blacklist Cultural  

1. Concerted action by employers to deny employment to someone suspected of unacceptable opinions or behavior. For example, individual workers suspected of favoring labor unions have often been blacklisted by all the employers in a region.

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Discover More

During the McCarthy era (see Joseph P. McCarthy) in the 1950s, the careers of many public figures suspected of communist activities were ruined by blacklisting.

Other Word Forms

• blacklisting noun

Etymology

Origin of blacklist

First recorded in 1610–20; black + list ¹

Example Sentences

Additional accusations included sharing classified documents, putting artists critical of her policies on a "blacklist", and dismissing officials who opposed her.

From Barron's

At least five members of the Cabello family are blacklisted by the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Gulf Coast even after Washington imposed a blockade on blacklisted oil tankers traveling mostly to China and Cuba.

From The Wall Street Journal

"If Alibaba were to get sanctioned or usage was effectively blacklisted, we don't want to get caught in that trap."

From Barron's

About 75 tankers are loitering in Venezuelan waters, and half are on Treasury’s blacklist for sanctions violators, according to TankerTrackers.com.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• banish
• blackball
• expel
• ostracize
• snub