Definition

1. Verb:

   • To vote against someone, especially to exclude them from membership in a club or organization: The primary meaning refers to a formal, often secret, negative vote that blocks a candidate's admission.
   • To ostracize or expel from a group or community: It can also mean to reject or exclude someone socially or from participation.

2. Noun:

   • A negative vote that excludes or vetoes: The act of blackballing someone, or the black ball itself used as a token of rejection in a voting process.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The committee decided to blackball the applicant due to concerns about his past conduct.
  • After the scandal, he was blackballed from all the prestigious clubs in the city.
• Noun:
  • A single blackball was enough to deny her membership.
  • He received a blackball, ending his hopes of joining the society.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Procedural Context: Traditionally, in secret society votes, a white ball signified a "yes" and a black ball a "no." One or two black balls could be enough to reject a candidate.
  • The old-fashioned rule required only two blackballs to exclude a nominee.

Variants and Related Words

• Blackballing (n/gerund): The process or practice of excluding someone by a negative vote.
  • The blackballing of qualified candidates was seen as unfair.
• Blackballer (n): A person who casts a blackball or engages in blackballing.

Synonyms

• Verb: Veto, reject, exclude, ostracize, bar, ban, expel.
• Noun: Veto, rejection, negative vote.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To be blackballed: This is the most common idiomatic usage, describing the state of having been excluded.
  • He feared he would be blackballed if he spoke out against the leadership.

Noun

1. the act of excluding someone by a negative vote or veto

Verb

1. vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent
   • The President vetoed the bill
2. expel from a community or group