blackball

1 of 2

verb

black·​ball ˈblak-ˌbȯl 

blackballed; blackballing; blackballs

transitive verb

1

: to vote against

especially : to exclude from membership by casting a negative vote

2

a

: to exclude socially : ostracize

b

: boycott

blackball

2 of 2

noun

1

: a small black ball for use as a negative vote in a ballot box

2

: an adverse vote especially against admitting someone to membership in an organization

Synonyms

Verb

• down
• kill
• negative
• nix
• shoot down
• veto

Examples of blackball in a Sentence

Verb

She was blackballed by the sorority

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Incognito resurrected his career after his NFL imposed suspension (eight games in 2013), and blackballing (all of 2014). —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025

In 2017, the rapper, along with many of his peers, expressed support for free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick after the NFL player claimed that he had been blackballed by the league for kneeling during the National Anthem. —Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Noun

And Grey Sloan is number one on the blackball list. —Lincee Ray, EW.com, 27 Sep. 2024

Campaign finance records reveal Trump’s cash crunch Donald Trump’s recent threat to blackball Republican donors who support his opponents was about more than just loyalty. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 1 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for blackball

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

blackball

1 of 2 noun

black·​ball ˈblak-ˌbȯl 

1

: a small black ball used to vote against a person

2

: a vote against a person

blackball

2 of 2 verb

: to vote against

especially : to keep (a person) from joining something by voting against