blacklist

[blak-list]

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.

verb (used with object)

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

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

blacklist

/ 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

verb

1. (tr) to put on a blacklist

blacklist

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.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of blacklist¹

First recorded in 1610–20; black + list ¹

Example Sentences

Unite said the Job&Talent recruitment agency workers had voted in favour of strike action "over bullying, harassment and the threat of blacklisting at the council's refuse department two weeks ago".

Read more on BBC

That move came under pressure from U.S. authorities, who had warned the Dutch government that the chip maker would be put on a trade blacklist unless its Chinese ownership were ousted.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s a cash-starved state blacklisted by the Group of Seven’s Financial Action Task Force and awash in narcotics and money from online fraud.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

China blocked the export of the chips after the Dutch government seized control of Nexperia from its Chinese parent, which is on a U.S. trade blacklist.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They are also 13 times more likely to include a "blacklisted" source which is blocked by Wikipedia, it added.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• banish 
• blackball 
• expel 
• ostracize 
• snub