blackmail
noun
black·mail
| \ ˈblak-ˌmāl
\
\
Definition of blackmail
1
: a tribute anciently exacted on the Scottish border by plundering chiefs in exchange for immunity from pillage
2a
: extortion or coercion by threats especially of public exposure or criminal prosecution
b
: the payment that is extorted
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Examples of blackmail in a Sentence
She was a victim of blackmail.
The servant extorted blackmail from her employer.
Recent Examples on the Web
The lawyer accused of trying to blackmail Nike is seeking court permission to demand additional documents from the company. — oregonlive, "Avenatti demands more documents from Nike," 6 Sep. 2019 The five-year contract with the haulers (the basis of the mayor’s blackmail of St. Paul voters) is years too long. — Letter Writers, Twin Cities, "Letters: FYI to new students: This state needs better accountants," 1 Sep. 2019 Monty, Bryce, and Alex are all leaving when the Hillcrest student tries to say goodbye the closeted, hotheaded football player and gets beaten — hence the need for blackmail. — Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, "13 Reasons Why season 3 binge recap," 23 Aug. 2019 Bryce then helped Winston get someone to take the SATs for him as a bribe, therefore securing blackmail over Winston in perpetuity. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "The Timeline You Need To Understand 13 Reasons Why Season 3," 24 Aug. 2019 The indictment suggests that Kelly’s tactics included physical abuse, violence, threats of violence, blackmail and other behaviors to control his victims. — Dahleen Glanton, chicagotribune.com, "Column: An alleged sexual assault victim may have lied to help acquit R. Kelly in 2008. Her cooperation this time is an act of bravery.," 18 July 2019 The Russians obviously knew that Flynn had lied, and that left the president’s top national security aide exposed to blackmail by a hostile foreign power. — Seth Hettena, The New Republic, "The FBI’s Trump-Russia Investigation Continues," 25 July 2019 Many ad campaigns today celebrate gay progress in combating discrimination and harassment, but the Stonewall history reminds us that gay people endured police raids, loss of jobs, blackmail and being spied on. — Hal Boedeker, orlandosentinel.com, "Stonewall at 50: Toast gay progress," 25 June 2019 Europe was dangerously vulnerable to nuclear blackmail. — The Economist, "Europe alone: July 2024," 6 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blackmail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for blackmail
blackmail
noun
English Language Learners Definition of blackmail
: the crime of threatening to tell secret information about someone unless the person being threatened gives you money or does what you want
: something (such as money) that is received through blackmail
See the full definition for blackmail in the English Language Learners Dictionary
blackmail
noun
black·mail
| \ ˈblak-ˌmāl
\
\
Kids Definition of blackmail
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: the act of forcing someone to do or pay something by threatening to reveal a secret
2
: something (as money) obtained by threatening to reveal a secret
blackmail
verb
blackmailed;
blackmailing
Kids Definition of blackmail (Entry 2 of 2)
: to threaten to reveal a secret unless something is done (as paying money)
blackmail
noun
black·mail
| \ ˈblak-ˌmāl
\
\
Legal Definition of blackmail
: extortion or coercion by often written threats especially of public exposure, physical harm, or criminal prosecution
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