Definition of "blackball" in English

noun

1. (countable) A rejection; a vote against admitting someone.

2. (countable) A black ball used to indicate such a negative vote.

   • Regardless how many other people may have voted to approve a candidate for membership, a single blackball will reject the candidate.

3. (countable) A kind of large black sweet, a black-colored gobstopper.

4. A substance for blacking shoes, boots, etc. or for taking impressions of engraved work.

5. (uncountable) A game, a standardized version of the English version of eight-ball.

verb

1. (transitive) To vote against, especially in an exclusive organization.

   • If you're not from a moneyed, well-connected family, you can count on getting blackballed from the fraternity.

2. (transitive) To ostracize.