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blood diamond

American

[bluhd dahy-muhnd, dahy-uh-] / ˈblʌd ˌdaɪ mənd, ˌdaɪ ə- /

noun

a diamond that is sold, often on the black market, to finance armed conflict in the region of origin.

Many buyers are now refusing to purchase blood diamonds for ethical reasons.

Etymology

Origin of blood diamond

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Dr Vines, who formerly worked as a blood diamond investigator for the UN, is concerned that gold has become Africa's new main conflict commodity.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2025

So, yes, it doesn’t go too far to say: Beyoncé is wearing a blood diamond.

From Washington Post • Aug. 26, 2021

Mmmm, kinda like this: supporting a restaurant with a tainted chef is like celebrating your engagement with a blood diamond...

From New York Times • Jan. 2, 2018

Will Nicky Minaj take the moral high ground or the blood diamond paycheck?

From Slate • Dec. 17, 2015

Kerry praised Yao's work and called ivory "today's blood diamond" — a lucrative trade for international criminals with wide-ranging consequences for nature and local populations.

From US News • Jul. 9, 2014

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023