Blocklist: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used in digital and cybersecurity contexts to refer to lists that block traffic from specific sources for security reasons.

• The company's firewall includes a blocklist of known malicious IP addresses
• Email providers use a blocklist to filter out spam

Traditionally used to refer to a list of individuals or entities excluded from a service, job, or social privilege. It can have a strongly negative connotation due to its historical associations with discrimination.

• The employee was blacklisted after being caught leaking company secrets
• The singer was put on a blacklist and could no longer perform in certain venues

Used primarily in situations where access or participation is explicitly prohibited, often permanently or for a significant period. Common in gaming, social media, and community guidelines.

• The user was added to the ban list for violating the community rules
• The gaming platform maintains a ban list of players who cheat

Used in official and regulatory settings to indicate entities or individuals who are denied privileges, access, or permissions, often in legal, trade, or business contexts.

• Export regulations require companies to consult the denial list before shipping goods overseas
• The contractor is on the denial list for government contracts due to past violations

This is used in contexts where you need to prevent access or communication from certain sources. It's often used in IT and online security to refer to a list of blocked entities.

• Our email server has a blocklist to prevent spam.
• The IT department added several IP addresses to the blocklist.

Similar to blocklist, but often carries a more negative connotation and is historically rooted in exclusionary practices. Commonly used in both social and technical contexts to describe unwanted entities.

• The agency has a blacklist of untrusted vendors.
• After revealing confidential information, he was blacklisted from the industry.

This is appropriate when you want to describe a formal or authoritative prohibition. It is used in legal, organizational, and social contexts.

• The government decided to ban smoking in public places.
• He was banned from entering the club after the incident.

This is used when you want to place specific limitations or controls on something. It's often seen in formal documentation, policies, and rules.

• The company decided to restrict access to sensitive documents.
• Parents tend to restrict their children's internet usage.