blacklist

[ blak-list ]

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.

verb (used with object)

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

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

blacklist

/ 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

verb

1. tr to put on a blacklist

blacklist

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.

Notes

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈblackˌlisting, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blacklist¹

First recorded in 1610–20; black + list ¹

Example Sentences

After the riot, Johnston was fired by the creator of “Bob’s Burgers,” lost a role in a movie based on the show and has “essentially been blacklisted” in Hollywood, said defense attorney Stanley Woodward.

From Los Angeles Times

Johnston has "essentially been blacklisted by Hollywood" and "has worked as a handyman for the last two years – an obvious far cry from his actual expertise and livelihood in film and television", Mr Woodward argued.

From BBC

When I was blacklisted, I was like, “Okay, how do you make new friends when you’re 57?”

From Los Angeles Times

“The biggest fear we hear about is retaliation from employers, or that someone might be blacklisted from other jobs,” Sauvé said.

From Salon

The New South Wales native said he was blacklisted from the industry for being difficult to work with.

From BBC

Related Words

• banish
• blackball
• expel
• ostracize
• snub