blackball Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of excluding someone by a negative vote or veto
    barring.
  2. verb expel from a community or group
    ostracize; shun; cast out; ban; ostracise; banish.
  3. verb vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent
    veto; negative.
    • The President vetoed the bill

WordNet

Black"ball` noun
Definitions
  1. A composition for blacking shoes, boots, etc.; also, one for taking impressions of engraved work.
  2. A ball of black color, esp. one used as a negative in voting; -- in this sense usually two words.
Black"ball` transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Blackballed ; present participle & verbal noun Blackballing
Definitions
  1. To vote against, by putting a black ball into a ballot box; to reject or exclude, as by voting against with black balls; to ostracize.
    He was blackballed at two clubs in succession. Thackeray.
  2. To blacken (leather, shoes, etc.) with blacking.

Webster 1913