BLACKBALLED Meaning and
Definition
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Blackballed is a verb that is commonly used to refer to the act of excluding, ostracizing, or rejecting someone from a group or organization. The term is derived from a historical practice where each member of a group would cast a secret vote using either a black or white ball to indicate their support or opposition towards a candidate or decision. If a candidate received a black ball, it signified their rejection by the group. In modern usage, being blackballed often implies being denied membership or participation in a particular social, professional, or political circle due to disapproval or dissent.
When someone is blackballed, they are effectively boycotted or shunned by the group. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including personal disagreements, political differences, allegations of misconduct, or a perceived threat to the group's unity or status quo. The act of blackballing is often driven by the collective decision of the members of the group, who may exercise their right to exclude or disassociate themselves from an individual they deem unacceptable.
Being blackballed can have significant consequences for an individual, as it can damage their reputation, limit their opportunities, and isolate them socially. However, it is important to note that blackballing does not always carry universally negative connotations, as it can be a legitimate mechanism for protecting the integrity and values of a group.
Common Misspellings for BLACKBALLED
Etymology of BLACKBALLED
The word "blackballed" originates from the practice of using small black or white balls to cast votes in secret during certain historical voting procedures, such as elections or membership applications. The term itself is derived from the concept of "ballot", which refers to a system of voting.
In particular, the term "blackball" originally referred to the practice of using a black ball to signify disapproval or rejection. When someone was deemed undesirable or unworthy of acceptance, their nomination would be rejected by inserting a black ball into the ballot box. Therefore, being "blackballed" means being rejected or excluded from a group or organization based on the negative votes cast against you.
This practice dates back to ancient times and was notably used in various organizations, clubs, societies, and fraternities, where membership decisions were made based on secret ballots.
Similar spelling word for BLACKBALLED
Conjugate verb Blackballed
CONDITIONAL
I
would blackball
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would blackball
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would blackball
FUTURE
I
will blackball
we
will blackball
you
will blackball
he/she/it
will blackball
they
will blackball
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have blackballed
we
will have blackballed
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will have blackballed
he/she/it
will have blackballed
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will have blackballed
PAST
I
blackballed
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blackballed
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blackballed
he/she/it
blackballed
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blackballed
PAST PERFECT
I
had blackballed
we
had blackballed
you
had blackballed
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had blackballed
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had blackballed
PRESENT
I
blackball
we
blackball
you
blackball
he/she/it
blackballs
they
blackball
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have blackballed
we
have blackballed
you
have blackballed
he/she/it
has blackballed
they
have blackballed
I
am blackballing
we
are blackballing
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are blackballing
he/she/it
is blackballing
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are blackballing
I
was blackballing
we
were blackballing
you
were blackballing
he/she/it
was blackballing
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were blackballing
I
will be blackballing
we
will be blackballing
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will be blackballing
he/she/it
will be blackballing
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will be blackballing
I
have been blackballing
we
have been blackballing
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have been blackballing
he/she/it
has been blackballing
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have been blackballing
I
had been blackballing
we
had been blackballing
you
had been blackballing
he/she/it
had been blackballing
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had been blackballing
I
will have been blackballing
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will have been blackballing
you
will have been blackballing
he/she/it
will have been blackballing
they
will have been blackballing
I
would have blackballed
we
would have blackballed
you
would have blackballed
he/she/it
would have blackballed
they
would have blackballed
I
would be blackballing
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would be blackballing
you
would be blackballing
he/she/it
would be blackballing
they
would be blackballing
I
would have been blackballing
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would have been blackballing
you
would have been blackballing
he/she/it
would have been blackballing
they
would have been blackballing
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