black·ball
ˈblak-ˌbȯl 
blackballed; blackballing; blackballs
1
: to vote against
especially
: to exclude from membership by casting a negative vote
1
: a small black ball for use as a negative vote in a ballot box
2
: an adverse vote especially against admitting someone to membership in an organization
Examples of blackball in a Sentence
Verb
She was blackballed by the sorority
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2025
The premise is the plot: Powell plays Russ Holiday, a disgraced University of Oregon star who blows a championship game so spectacularly that he’s blackballed from the pros.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
And Grey Sloan is number one on the blackball list.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 27 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for blackball
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
In the past, the Young Money rapper has accused Roc Nation of blackballing her and also owing her $200 million.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2025
The premise is the plot: Powell plays Russ Holiday, a disgraced University of Oregon star who blows a championship game so spectacularly that he’s blackballed from the pros.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
For more than 20 years, apologists for Israel have sought to shame, blackball, and fire professors who criticize Israeli policy.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
And Grey Sloan is number one on the blackball list.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 27 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for blackball
Cite this Entry
“Blackball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blackball. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
blackball
1 of 2 noun
black·ball
ˈblak-ˌbȯl
1
: a small black ball used to vote against a person
2
: a vote against a person
blackball
2 of 2 verb
: to vote against
especially
: to keep (a person) from joining something by voting against
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share