boycott

American  

[boi-kot] / ˈbɔɪ kɒt /

verb (used with object)

1. to combine in abstaining from, or preventing dealings with, as a means of intimidation or coercion.

   to boycott a store.

2. to abstain from buying or using.

   to boycott foreign products.

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noun

1. the practice of boycotting.

2. an instance of boycotting.

boycott ¹ British  

/ ˈbɔɪkɒt /

verb

1. (tr) to refuse to have dealings with (a person, organization, etc) or refuse to buy (a product) as a protest or means of coercion

   to boycott foreign produce

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noun

1. an instance or the use of boycotting

Boycott ² British  

/ ˈbɔɪkɒt /

noun

1. 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

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boycott Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• antiboycott noun
• boycotter noun
• proboycott adjective

Etymology

Origin of boycott

After Charles C. Boycott (1832–97), English estate manager in Ireland, against whom nonviolent coercive tactics were used in 1880

Example Sentences

The game was only confirmed as going ahead late on Monday night after the Islamabad government made a U-turn on its order to boycott the blockbuster Group A game.

From Barron's

More ominous, perhaps, are European efforts to boycott U.S. goods External link.

From Barron's

More ominous, perhaps, are European efforts to boycott U.S. goods External link.

From Barron's

Last December the contest was disrupted after Iceland joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in saying it would boycott the 2026 competition.

From BBC

Various artists boycotted a Spotify party in 2025, and Taylor Swift famously refused to put her work on the platform for three years because the platform didn't pay enough.

From BBC

Related Words

• avoid
• cut off
• exclude
• refuse
• reject
• snub
• spurn