blackmail
playSimple Definition of blackmail
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: the crime of threatening to tell secret information about someone unless the person being threatened gives you money or does what you want
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: something (such as money) that is received through blackmail
Full Definition of blackmail
1 : a tribute anciently exacted on the Scottish border by plundering chiefs in exchange for immunity from pillage
2 a : extortion or coercion by threats especially of public exposure or criminal prosecution b : the payment that is extorted
blackmail
transitive verbblackmailer
nounExamples of blackmail in a sentence
She was a victim of blackmail.
The servant extorted blackmail from her employer.
Origin and Etymology of blackmail
black + 1mail
First Known Use: 1552
Other Government and Politics Terms
BLACKMAIL Defined for Kids
Definition of blackmail for Students
1 : the act of forcing someone to do or pay something by threatening to reveal a secret
2 : something (as money) obtained by threatening to reveal a secret
Definition of blackmail for Students
blackmailed
blackmailing
: to threaten to reveal a secret unless something is done (as paying money)
blackmailer
nounLaw Dictionary
blackmail
playLegal Definition of blackmail
: extortion or coercion by often written threats especially of public exposure, physical harm, or criminal prosecution
blackmail
transitive verbblackmailer
\-ˌmā-lər\ nounOrigin and Etymology of blackmail
originally, payment extorted from farmers in Scotland and northern England, from black + dialectal mail payment, rent
Learn More about blackmail
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Spanish Central: Translation of blackmail Nglish: Translation of blackmail for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of blackmail for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blackmail
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