Blackball Definition
blăkbôl
blackballed, blackballs
noun
blackballs
A negative vote, especially one that blocks the admission of an applicant to an organization.
American Heritage
A secret ballot or vote against a person or thing.
Webster's New World
A small black ball used as a negative ballot.
American Heritage
A rejection, a vote against admitting someone.
Wiktionary
A black ball used to indicate such a negative vote.
Regardless how many other people may have voted to approve a candidate for membership, a single blackball will reject the candidate.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
verb
blackballed
To vote against, especially to veto the admission of.
American Heritage
To vote against; esp., to vote against letting (a person) join one's organization.
Webster's New World
To shut out from social or commercial participation; ostracize or boycott.
American Heritage
To bar or ostracize from social life, a particular profession, etc.
Webster's New World
To vote against, especially in an exclusive organization.
If you're not from a moneyed, well-connected family, you can count on getting blackballed from the fraternity.
Wiktionary
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