blackmail

The definition of blackmail is the criminal act of demanding a payment from someone by threatening to expose a secret.

(noun)

When someone writes you a letter and threatens to expose your extramarital affair to your husband unless you pay $1000, this is an example of blackmail.
When you are charged with a crime for extorting money by threatening to reveal embarrassing information, the charges are because of an act of blackmail.

See blackmail in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Historical a tribute paid to freebooters and bandits along the Scottish border to assure safety from looting
1. payment extorted by threatening to disclose information that could bring disgrace or ruin
2. the extortion of such payment

Origin: lit., black rent < ME male, rent, tribute < OE mal, lawsuit, terms < ON lawsuit, discussion; infl. in ME by OFr maille, a coin

transitive verb

Related Forms:

See blackmail in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. Extortion of money or something else of value from a person by the threat of exposing a criminal act or discreditable information.
b. Something of value extorted in this manner.
Tribute formerly paid to freebooters along the Scottish border for protection from pillage.

Origin:

Origin: black

Origin: + mail³

Related Forms: