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- DictionaryBlack·ball/ˈblakˌbôl/
verb
- 1. reject (someone, usually a candidate applying to become a member of a private club), typically by means of a secret ballot: "her husband was blackballed when he tried to join the Country Club"
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.
Blackball most commonly means to blacklist someone or otherwise ban, reject, or unfairly prevent them from joining an organization or participating in something. The act of doing so can also be called a blackball.
When you blackball someone, you ban him from a group. A bunch of kids who kick a tattletale out of their secret club essentially blackball him. You can use blackball as a noun or a verb — a blackball is an act of excluding or ostracizing someone.
BLACKBALL definition: 1. to vote against allowing someone to be a member of an organization or group: 2. to vote against…. Learn more.
BLACKBALL meaning: 1. to vote against allowing someone to be a member of an organization or group: 2. to vote against…. Learn more.
Define blackball. blackball synonyms, blackball pronunciation, blackball translation, English dictionary definition of blackball. n. 1. A negative vote, especially one that blocks the admission of an applicant to an organization. 2. A small black ball used as a negative ballot.
noun. 1. Obsolete. a small black ball used as a vote against a person or thing. 2. a secret ballot or vote against a person or thing. verb transitive. 3. to vote against; esp., to vote against letting (a person) join one's organization.
Blackball definition: A negative vote, especially one that blocks the admission of an applicant to an organization.
Definition of blackball verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun blackball. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
BLACKBALL meaning: to prevent (someone) from joining a group, club, etc., by voting against him or her often used as (be) blackballed.
May 18, 2024 · blackball (countable and uncountable, plural blackballs) A rejection; a vote against admitting someone. A black ball used to indicate such a negative vote.
noun. 1. Obsolete. a small black ball used as a vote against a person or thing. 2. a secret ballot or vote against a person or thing. verb transitive. 3. to vote against; esp., to vote against letting (a person) join one's organization.
blackball /ˈblækˌbɔːl/ n. a negative vote or veto. a black wooden ball used to indicate disapproval or to veto in a vote. vb (transitive) to vote against in a ballot. to exclude (someone) from a group, profession, etc; ostracize. Etymology: 18th Century: see sense 2.
Synonyms for BLACKBALL: dismiss, kill, refuse, veto, negative, shoot down, nix, disallow; Antonyms of BLACKBALL: confirm, allow, pass, approve, admit, ratify, elect, sanction.
Blackball refers to the act of rejecting, excluding, or voting against someone, typically a prospective member, from a particular social group or organization. It often happens through a collective voting process, where a black ball or token is used to represent disapproval or dissent.
A complete guide to the word "BLACKBALL": definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, grammar insights, collocations, examples, and translations.
To blackball someone means to exclude them from a group or society by a secret vote. It can also mean ostracizing or rejecting someone. I know, right? It seems pretty intense for such an unassuming term! Is Blackball an Idiom? In essence, blackball is a verb, not an idiom.
Definition of blackball verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Find 19 different ways to say BLACKBALL, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.
Definition of blackball verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Black Ball: a round black shape hoisted at a ship's mast head, with various contextual meanings. "Blackballing", a form of male hazing ritual in which the victim's genitals are covered in black shoe polish. Common in British boarding schools and fraternities.
