Blackball: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ซ
blackball
[ หblรฆkbษหl ]
social exclusion
To blackball someone means to vote against their membership, involvement, or acceptance within a particular group or organization. This typically occurs during secret ballots and can result in a person being ostracized from social or professional circles. The act of blackballing can have serious implications for an individual's reputation and opportunities. It is often associated with clubs, societies, and other collective groups that have a selective membership process.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The committee decided to blackball the controversial candidate.
- He was blackballed from the country club after the incident.
- Despite his talent, he was blackballed by the industry.
- Her outspoken opinions led her to be blackballed in the community.
social rejection
A blackball refers to a vote cast against someone, typically used in the context of secret ballot voting for membership in exclusive organizations. When a blackball is used, it usually signifies that the individual is unwelcome within that particular group. The term also symbolizes broader social rejection, reflecting how communities can decide to exclude individuals based on various criteria.
Synonyms
disapproval, no-vote, rejection
Examples of usage
- His application received a blackball from the board.
- Despite his achievements, he faced a blackball from his peers.
- The blackballing process was made clear during the meeting.
- She learned about the consequences of being on the blackball list.
Translations
Translations of the word "blackball" in other languages:
๐ต๐น excluir
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฌเฅเคจ เคเคฐเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช ausschlieรen
๐ฎ๐ฉ mengeluarkan
๐บ๐ฆ ะฒะธะบะปััะฐัะธ
๐ต๐ฑ wykluczaฤ
๐ฏ๐ต ๆ้คใใ
๐ซ๐ท exclure
๐ช๐ธ excluir
๐น๐ท hariรง tutmak
๐ฐ๐ท ์ ์ธํ๋ค
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงุณุชุจุนุงุฏ
๐จ๐ฟ vylouฤit
๐ธ๐ฐ vylรบฤiลฅ
๐จ๐ณ ๆ้ค
๐ธ๐ฎ izkljuฤiti
๐ฎ๐ธ รบtiloka
๐ฐ๐ฟ ััาะฐััะฟ ัะฐััะฐั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ รงฤฑxarmaq
๐ฒ๐ฝ excluir
Word origin
The term 'blackball' originated in the 18th century and is believed to have derived from the practice of using black and white balls to vote in social clubs. When members of such clubs voted on whether an individual should be admitted, a black ball indicated disapproval and a white ball indicated acceptance. The term gained popularity over time and became a metaphor for excluding individuals from various contexts, particularly in social and professional settings. This voting method highlighted the power dynamics within exclusive organizations and illustrated how a single blackball could significantly impact a person's social standing. The concept of 'blackballing' has since evolved into broader applications, signifying the act of preventing someone from gaining access to opportunities or communities.
Word Frequency Rank
At position #40,167, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.
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