blacklist

American  

[blak-list] / ˈblækˌlɪst /

noun

1. a list of persons under suspicion, disfavor, censure, etc..

   His record as an anarchist put him on the government's blacklist.

2. a list privately exchanged among employers, containing the names of persons to be barred from employment because of untrustworthiness or for holding opinions considered undesirable.

3. a list drawn up by a labor union, containing the names of employers to be boycotted for unfair labor practices.

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verb (used with object)

1. to put (a person, group, company, etc.) on a blacklist.

   Synonyms:

   ostracize, shun, ban, proscribe, debar, bar, blackball

blacklist British  

/ ˈblækˌlɪst /

noun

1. a list of persons or organizations under suspicion, or considered untrustworthy, disloyal, etc, esp one compiled by a government or an organization

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verb

1. (tr) to put on a blacklist

blacklist Cultural  

1. Concerted action by employers to deny employment to someone suspected of unacceptable opinions or behavior. For example, individual workers suspected of favoring labor unions have often been blacklisted by all the employers in a region.

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Discover More

During the McCarthy era (see Joseph P. McCarthy) in the 1950s, the careers of many public figures suspected of communist activities were ruined by blacklisting.

Other Word Forms

• blacklisting noun

Etymology

Origin of blacklist

First recorded in 1610–20; black + list ¹

Example Sentences

In 2012, Russia enacted an internet blacklist law, with the stated intention of protecting children from harmful content.

From The Wall Street Journal

The National Park Service has reportedly blacklisted SFGate over critical coverage.

From Los Angeles Times

Initially, Paramount included Chinese technology company Tencent Holdings as a minority investor, but Paramount later removed Tencent from the investor pool due to concerns about its problematic status — it has been blacklisted by the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

The risk label puts the US company in the same boat as the Chinese telecoms firm Huawei, which was similarly blacklisted over different national security concerns.

From BBC

At the same time, frightened sailors who don't fulfil their contracts by abandoning ship will have difficulties finding future employment as shipping companies may blacklist them.

From BBC

Related Words

• banish
• blackball
• expel
• ostracize
• snub