Ostracize vs. Blackball

Ostracize vs. Blackball — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Ostracize and Blackball

Ostracizeverb

To exclude (a person) from society or from a community, by not communicating with (them) or by refusing to acknowledge (their) presence; to refuse to talk to or associate with; to shun.

Blackballnoun

(countable) A rejection; a vote against admitting someone.

Ostracizeverb

(historical) To ban a person from the city of Athens for ten years.

Blackballnoun

(countable) A black ball used to indicate such a negative vote.

Regardless how many other people may have voted to approve a candidate for membership, a single blackball will reject the candidate.

Ostracizeverb

expel from a community or group

Blackballnoun

(countable) A kind of large black sweet; a niggerball.

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Ostracizeverb

avoid speaking to or dealing with;

Ever since I spoke up, my colleagues ostracize me

Blackballnoun

A substance for blacking shoes, boots, etc. or for taking impressions of engraved work.

Blackballnoun

(uncountable) A game, a standardized version of the English version of eight-ball.

reds and yellows

Blackballverb

(transitive) To vote against, especially in an exclusive organization.

If you're not from a moneyed, well-connected family, you can count on getting blackballed from the fraternity.

Blackballverb

(transitive) To ostracize.

Blackballnoun

the act of excluding someone by a negative vote or veto

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Blackballverb

expel from a community or group

Blackballverb

vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent;

The President vetoed the bill