blackmail

[blak-meyl]

noun

1. any payment extorted by intimidation, as by threats of injurious revelations or accusations.

2. the extortion of such payment.

   He confessed rather than suffer the dishonor of blackmail.

3. a tribute formerly exacted in the north of England and in Scotland by freebooting chiefs for protection from pillage.

verb (used with object)

1. to extort money from (a person) by the use of threats.

2. to force or coerce into a particular action, statement, etc..

   The strikers claimed they were blackmailed into signing the new contract.

blackmail

/ ˈblækˌmeɪl /

noun

1. the act of attempting to obtain money by intimidation, as by threats to disclose discreditable information

2. the exertion of pressure or threats, esp unfairly, in an attempt to influence someone's actions

verb

1. to exact or attempt to exact (money or anything of value) from (a person) by threats or intimidation; extort

2. to attempt to influence the actions of (a person), esp by unfair pressure or threats

Other Word Forms

• blackmailer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blackmail¹

First recorded in 1545–55; black + mail ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of blackmail¹

C16: see _black , _mail ³

Example Sentences

Attorney’s office, who approached him because prosecutors thought he could be a victim of blackmail or extortion.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He said that Epstein’s trafficking racket was a means of blackmailing “high-profile, extremely wealthy” people.

Read more on Salon

Referring to the nickname for people from Indiana, she said: "Hoosiers are not used to being sort of in a blackmail position. It does not bode well."

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Many initially suspected Russian involvement and an attempt by Moscow to blackmail Europe by restricting its energy supplies.

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Then they’d “discover” the evidence and use it to blackmail the visitors.

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Related Words

• bribe 
• bribery 
• extortion 

When To Use

What does blackmail mean?

Blackmail is the act of attempting to force someone to do something or give up something valuable by threatening negative consequences if they don’t, especially revealing negative information about them.Blackmail can also be used as a verb meaning to do such a thing.Less commonly, blackmail can refer specifically to a payment made due to threats or coercion.Perhaps the most common blackmail scenario is forcing someone to pay money in order to avoid having a negative secret revealed about them.Blackmail is a serious crime, but sometimes the word is applied to less serious situations. For example, making your sibling do your chores so you don’t tattle on them to your parents for something they did is definitely blackmail.Example: My life is an open book, so you have nothing to blackmail me with—everyone already knows all my secrets!