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

Other Words from boycott Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about boycott

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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

The only thing harder to imagine than Love boycotting the media is her quitting Twitter. — Lisawhill, Longreads, "Live Through This: Courtney Love at 55," 9 July 2019 There had been talk of a protest or boycott if a team with Lanzarotti entered. — Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, "Bridge: June 16, 2019," 16 June 2019 In December 1995, nine U.S. women’s team members boycotted the Olympic training camp in protest. — Tate Royer, The Denver Post, "Guest Commentary: The biggest fight facing the U.S. women’s soccer team isn’t on the field," 14 June 2019 But The Sun understands that the Premier League will boycott any requests to play any high-profile friendly matches abroad, like what's seen during pre-season. — SI.com, "Premier League Set to Ban Mid-Season Friendly Games During Inaugural Winter Break," 13 June 2019 Some clerics and political leaders encouraged boycotting immunization, citing contaminants that could reduce the Muslim population and mistrust of the government. — Shobana Shankar, Quartz Africa, "What the United States could learn from Nigeria about taking on anti-vaxxers," 7 June 2019 But Britain and Iceland have announced their government officials will boycott the competition. — Anton Troianovski, chicagotribune.com, "World Cup fans meet Russians on the world's longest train line," 14 June 2018 But Britain and Iceland have announced their government officials will boycott the competition. — Anton Troianovski, Washington Post, "Vodka, pine nuts and politics: World cup fans meet Russians on the world’s longest train line," 14 June 2018 Some even asked whether Canadians should boycott United States products and stop traveling south of the border. — Dan Bilefsky, New York Times, "Trump’s ‘Bully’ Attack on Trudeau Outrages Canadians," 10 June 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

16 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for boycott

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.