black·ball
ˈblak-ˌbȯl 
blackballed; blackballing; blackballs
1
: to vote against
especially
: to exclude from membership by casting a negative vote
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
Examples of blackball in a Sentence
Verb
She was blackballed by the sorority
Recent Examples on the Web
Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Over the eight years since, Choi remained blackballed by the entirety of the Korean industry — until the production of the second season of Squid Game.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Among the keys to its success, labor groups said, is the Accord’s ability to blackball factories that refuse to remediate safety violations from selling goods to signatory brands.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for blackball
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Verb
Clark has previously testified on the stand that after falling out with Combs, the Revolt TV founder tried to blackball her.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Over the eight years since, Choi remained blackballed by the entirety of the Korean industry — until the production of the second season of Squid Game.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Noun
For more than 20 years, apologists for Israel have sought to shame, blackball, and fire professors who criticize Israeli policy.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Among the keys to its success, labor groups said, is the Accord’s ability to blackball factories that refuse to remediate safety violations from selling goods to signatory brands.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for blackball
Cite this Entry
“Blackball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blackball. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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