boycott

verb

boy·cott | \ ˈbȯi-ˌkät

boycotted; boycotting; boycotts

Definition of boycott

: to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (a person, a store, an organization, etc.) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions boycotting American products

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Did You Know?

In the 1870s, Irish farmers faced an agricultural crisis that threatened to result in a repeat of the terrible famine and mass evictions of the 1840s. Anticipating financial ruin, they formed a Land League to campaign against the rent increases and evictions landlords were imposing as a result of the crisis. Retired British army captain Charles Boycott had the misfortune to be acting as an agent for an absentee landlord at the time, and when he tried to evict tenant farmers for refusing to pay their rent, he was ostracized by the League and community. His laborers and servants quit, and his crops began to rot. Boycott's fate was soon well known, and his name became a byword for that particular protest strategy.

Examples of boycott in a Sentence

plans to boycott American products They boycotted the city's bus system. We boycotted companies that were polluting the environment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some Western academics have been boycotting publishers viewed as profiting unreasonably from their role as middlemen between academics and their own scholarship. — Joe Karaganis, Washington Post, "Russia is building a new Napster — but for academic research," 13 July 2018 The main opposition coalition is boycotting the election, though Maduro is not without challengers. — Mariano Castillo And Marilia Brocchetto, CNN, "Polls open in Venezuela as Maduro seeks reelection," 20 May 2018 Venezuela's opposition alliance is boycotting the election, while a few small and regional parties back Falcon. — Philip Brian Tabuas, Bloomberg.com, "Venezuela Votes in a Presidential Election. Enthusiasm Is Absent," 19 May 2018 There are calls to boycott his music and for companies to cut ties with R. Kelly. — Sarah Hauer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Be MKE: Explaining startup buzzwords, beer pizza and a Trump troll doll," 2 May 2018 Mr Falcón left the ruling socialist party in 2010 to join the opposition, which is boycotting the election and has booted him out for deciding to participate. — The Economist, "Politics this week," 1 Mar. 2018 But after an intense lobbying campaign by anti-Israeli critics who branded Doueiri a Zionist and a collaborator, the Arab League’s 22 members, including Lebanon, boycotted the film. — Jonathan Broder, Newsweek, "Ziad Doueiri's Controversial Film 'The Insult' Is Nominated for an Oscar After Boycotts in Lebanon," 26 Jan. 2018 But this time positions have hardened against Qatar, whose support for Islamist opposition groups has angered the Arab nations now boycotting it. — Matthew Lee, The Seattle Times, "Pompeo: Qatar diplomatic crisis ‘has dragged on too long’," 13 Jan. 2019 The Democratic Union bloc of opposition parties — known by its Spanish initials, MUD — had urged its followers to boycott the election as fraudulent. — Mery Mogollon, latimes.com, "Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro reelected amid boycott by opposition groups," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'boycott.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

7 May 2019

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The first known use of boycott was in 1880

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More Definitions for boycott

boycott

verb

English Language Learners Definition of boycott

: to refuse to buy, use, or participate in (something) as a way of protesting : to stop using the goods or services of (a company, country, etc.) until changes are made

See the full definition for boycott in the English Language Learners Dictionary

boycott

verb

boy·cott | \ ˈbȯi-ˌkät

boycotted; boycotting

Kids Definition of boycott

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to join with others in refusing to deal with someone (as a person, organization, or country) as a way of protesting or forcing changes

boycott

noun

Kids Definition of boycott (Entry 2 of 2)

: the process or an instance of joining with others in refusing to deal with someone (as a person, organization, or country) as a way of protesting or forcing changes

boycott

transitive verb

boy·cott | \ ˈbȯi-ˌkät

Legal Definition of boycott

: to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (as a store, business, or organization) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions — see also primary boycott, secondary boycott

Note: A boycott of a business by its competitors, suppliers, or buyers that has the effect of preventing the business's access to the market is a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.