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definitions

boycott

[ boi-kot ]
/ ˈbɔɪ kɒt /
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verb (used with object)

to combine in abstaining from, or preventing dealings with, as a means of intimidation or coercion: to boycott a store.
to abstain from buying or using: to boycott foreign products.

noun

the practice of boycotting.
an instance of boycotting.

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RELATED WORDS

refuse, spurn, avoid, snub, reject, exclude, embargo, prohibit, bar, ostracize, outlaw, blackball, blacklist, strike, proscribe

Nearby words

  1. boy-meets-girl,
  2. boyar,
  3. boyars,
  4. boyce,
  5. boychik,
  6. boyd,
  7. boyd orr,
  8. boyden meal,
  9. boyer,
  10. boyer's bursa

Origin of boycott

after Charles C. Boycott (1832–97), English estate manager in Ireland, against whom nonviolent coercive tactics were used in 1880
Related formsboy·cott·er, nounan·ti·boy·cott, noun, adjectivepro·boy·cott, adjective
Can be confusedboycott embargo
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for boycott

British Dictionary definitions for boycott (1 of 2)

boycott

/ (ˈbɔɪkɒt) /

verb

(tr) to refuse to have dealings with (a person, organization, etc) or refuse to buy (a product) as a protest or means of coercionto boycott foreign produce

noun

an instance or the use of boycotting

Word Origin for boycott

C19: after Captain C. C. Boycott (1832–97), Irish land agent for the Earl of Erne, County Mayo, Ireland, who was a victim of such practices for refusing to reduce rents

British Dictionary definitions for boycott (2 of 2)

Boycott

/ (ˈbɔɪkɒt) /

noun

Geoff (rey). born 1940, English cricketer: played for Yorkshire (1962–86); played in 108 test matches (1964–1982); first England batsman to score 8,000 test runs
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for boycott

boycott

1880, noun and verb, from Irish Land League ostracism of Capt. Charles C. Boycott (1832-1897), land agent of Lough-Mask in County Mayo, who refused to lower rents for his tenant farmers. Quickly adopted by newspapers in languages as far afield as Japanese (boikotto). The family name is from a place in England.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Culture definitions for boycott

boycott

The refusal to purchase the products of an individual, corporation, or nation as a way to bring social and political pressure for change.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.