blackball
UK: ˈblakbɔːl | US: ˈblækˌbɔl
vt. to reject or exclude someone from a group by voting against them
n. a negative vote or act of rejection, especially in a secret ballot
The term originates from 18th-century voting practices, where white balls (or ballots) signaled approval and black balls indicated rejection. The "black ball" was literally a dark-colored sphere dropped into a container during secret votes, particularly in exclusive clubs or societies. Over time, it evolved into a verb meaning to ostracize or veto someone's membership. The morpheme "black" symbolizes rejection, while "ball" refers to the voting object.
The committee decided to blackball the applicant due to his controversial past.
In some fraternities, a single blackball can prevent a candidate from joining.
She feared her colleagues would blackball her promotion out of jealousy.
The secret society's tradition required unanimous approval—no blackballs allowed.
Historically, guilds used blackballs to maintain strict membership standards.