black sheep

noun

1. a sheep with black fleece.
2. a person who causes shame or embarrassment because of deviation from an accepted standard of behavior.

black sheep

noun

1. a person who is regarded as a disgrace or failure by his family or peer group

black sheep

1. A person who is considered a disgrace to a particular group, usually a family: “Uncle Jack, who was imprisoned for forgery, is the black sheep of the family.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of black sheep¹

First recorded in 1785–95

Idioms and Phrases

The least reputable member of a group; a disgrace. For example, Uncle Fritz was the black sheep of the family; we always thought he emigrated to Argentina to avoid jail . This metaphor is based on the idea that black sheep were less valuable than white ones because it was more difficult to dye their wool different colors. Also, in the 16th century, their color was considered the devil's mark. By the 18th century the term was widely used as it is today, for the odd member of a group.

Example Sentences

Over the past 12 months we have identified a few black sheep.

From The Daily Beast

In Mary, he sees a sinner like himself—a friend of Christians, but a black sheep.

From The Daily Beast

Despite being a Hollywood black sheep, Mel Gibson found a reliable confidant in Trawick and the two became very close.

From The Daily Beast

Clinton jokes that Barbara Bush refers to him as her “black-sheep son.”

From The Daily Beast

But Bowie rarely spoke about the black sheep in his family, who spent most of his adult life in a mental institution.

From The Daily Beast

Harry took his bed into the spare-room, and Black Sheep lay down to die.

From Project Gutenberg

And with these, and the society of Jane on board-wages, Black Sheep was left alone for a month.

From Project Gutenberg

Uncle Harry took him for walks and consoled him with rough tenderness, never calling him Black Sheep.

From Project Gutenberg

For hours the gray man would sit on a tombstone, while Black Sheep read epitaphs, and then with a sigh would stump home again.

From Project Gutenberg

"He 's getting well," thought Black Sheep, who knew the song through all its seventeen verses.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• pariah