blackball

To "blackball" someone means to vote against their admission to a group or to ostracize them from a social or professional circle. The term originates from a traditional form of secret balloting used in gentlemen's clubs, fraternities, and secret societies dating back to the 18th century. In this system, members voted by placing a ball into a box; a white ball indicated support, while a black ball indicated opposition. In many rigorous selection processes, a single black ball was sufficient to deny membership to the candidate.

While the term is historically rooted in the physical color of voting tokens rather than skin color, it has come under scrutiny in modern discussions regarding inclusive language. Critics argue that idioms relying on the "black is negative / white is positive" dichotomy—such as blackball, blacklist, or blackmail—subtly reinforce anti-Black linguistic bias and colorism, regardless of their etymology. Conversely, others maintain that the term is a harmless historical reference that accurately describes a specific method of exclusion without inherent racial intent. Due to this friction, many style guides now recommend using neutral, descriptive verbs instead.

Example:
"After the whistleblower came forward, he feared he would be blackballed by every major firm in the city."

Example:
"The committee used a secret vote to blackball the applicant based on his prior conduct."