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

Please boycott these hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "Ellen DeGeneres Calls On Fans to Boycott These Famous Hotels," 3 Apr. 2019 In response to Nike’s decision to center its campaign — which also features stars like Serena Williams and LeBron James — on Kaepernick, some people have decided to boycott the company. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "Nike’s Colin Kaepernick ad sparked a boycott — and earned $6 billion for Nike," 24 Sep. 2018 Activist David Hogg also pledged on Twitter to boycott the company. — Ron Hurtibise, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Bank execs assure Parkland parents of commitment to stop financing assault weapons makers," 8 June 2018 The rampage spurred a fast-moving push to boycott companies associated with the National Rifle Association and the firearms industry, which was already dealing with a slump in sales after the election of President Trump. — New York Times, "Vista, Maker of Ammunition and Recreation Gear, Plans to Sell Off Gun-Making Unit," 1 May 2018 About her 157 career goals, her inspirational impact on girls everywhere, her incredible decision to boycott the sport until female players in Norway get more respect? — Wendy Naugle, Glamour, "This Female Soccer Star Makes History—Then Is Asked If She Knows How to Twerk," 4 Dec. 2018 October 11, 2016: Activists Shannon Coulter and Sue Atencio start #GrabYourWallet, a campaign to boycott businesses that sell Trump family branded products. — Megan Friedman, Town & Country, "The Rise and Fall of Ivanka Trump’s Fashion Line," 24 July 2018 Theaters in predominantly Muslim West Beirut are boycotting The Insult, as are Palestinians on the West Bank. — Jonathan Broder, Newsweek, "Ziad Doueiri's Controversial Film 'The Insult' Is Nominated for an Oscar After Boycotts in Lebanon," 26 Jan. 2018 In November, New York state Sen. Mike Gianaris called on supporters to remove the Amazon app from their phones and boycott the company. — Jimmy Vielkind, WSJ, "Honeymoon Ends for Albany’s Democratic Leaders," 10 Feb. 2019

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

9 Apr 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.