blackball
noun
- Historical a small black ball used as a vote against a person or thing
- a secret ballot or vote against a person or thing
transitive verb
- to vote against; esp., to vote against letting (a person) join one's organization
- to exclude from social life, etc.; ostracize
See blackball in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(blăkˈbôlˌ)
noun- A negative vote, especially one that blocks the admission of an applicant to an organization.
- A small black ball used as a negative ballot.
transitive verb black·balled,
black·ball·ing,
black·balls - To vote against, especially to veto the admission of.
- To shut out from social or commercial participation; ostracize or boycott.
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