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boycott

verb
boy·​cott | \ ˈbȯi-ËŒkät How to pronounce boycott (audio) \
boycotted; boycotting; boycotts

Definition of boycott

transitive verb

: to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (a person, a store, an organization, etc.) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions boycotting American products
Other Words from boycott Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about boycott

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Other Words from boycott

boycott noun
boycotter noun

Did You Know?

In the 1870s, Irish farmers faced an agricultural crisis that threatened to result in a repeat of the terrible famine and mass evictions of the 1840s. Anticipating financial ruin, they formed a Land League to campaign against the rent increases and evictions landlords were imposing as a result of the crisis. Retired British army captain Charles Boycott had the misfortune to be acting as an agent for an absentee landlord at the time, and when he tried to evict tenant farmers for refusing to pay their rent, he was ostracized by the League and community. His laborers and servants quit, and his crops began to rot. Boycott's fate was soon well known, and his name became a byword for that particular protest strategy.

Examples of boycott in a Sentence

plans to boycott American products They boycotted the city's bus system. We boycotted companies that were polluting the environment.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 An online boycotting campaign against Cathay has garnered over 17m views. — The Economist, "Is Hong Kong moving closer to the abyss that its leaders warn about?," 17 Aug. 2019 Many Arab states boycott Israel, though most have dropped the more economically damaging secondary boycott that pushed companies to avoid doing business with Israel. — Adam Rasmi, Quartz, "Why Israel has banned two US congresswomen, explained," 16 Aug. 2019 In the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the community under the Mumbai South constituency boycotted the elections in protest of the coastal road. — Nikhil S Dixit, Quartz India, "Mumbai’s small fishing community is relieved after a $2 billion road is stalled," 14 Aug. 2019 But boycotting palm oil isn’t necessarily the solution. — Olivia Fleming & Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Ultimate Guide to Clean Beauty," 12 Aug. 2019 That was why Rose called on NCAA players to take the drastic step of boycotting next month’s NCAA tournament. — Andrew Joseph, For The Win, "Jalen Rose says college basketball players should boycott the NCAA tournament," 27 Feb. 2018 There’s been no talk of boycotting El Paso, a city that depends heavily on Mexican shoppers. — Washington Post, "Cross-border ties still strong despite El Paso mass shooting," 7 Aug. 2019 If not, Hogg said, investors should boycott the companies. — Stephen Gandel, CBS News, "Gun maker stocks benefit after mass shootings, right? Not anymore," 5 Aug. 2019 None of the presidential candidates have expressed support of boycotting and divesting from Israel. — Mark Dent, Fortune, "Abortion, Reparations, Israel: What to Watch for During the Second Democratic Debate," 30 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'boycott.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of boycott

1880, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for boycott

Charles C. Boycott †1897 English land agent in Ireland who was ostracized for refusing to reduce rents

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More Definitions for boycott

boycott

verb
How to pronounce boycott (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of boycott

: to refuse to buy, use, or participate in (something) as a way of protesting : to stop using the goods or services of (a company, country, etc.) until changes are made

See the full definition for boycott in the English Language Learners Dictionary

boycott

verb
boy·​cott | \ ˈbȯi-ËŒkät How to pronounce boycott (audio) \
boycotted; boycotting

Kids Definition of boycott

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: to join with others in refusing to deal with someone (as a person, organization, or country) as a way of protesting or forcing changes

boycott

noun

Kids Definition of boycott (Entry 2 of 2)

: the process or an instance of joining with others in refusing to deal with someone (as a person, organization, or country) as a way of protesting or forcing changes

boycott

transitive verb
boy·​cott | \ ˈbȯi-ËŒkät How to pronounce boycott (audio) \

Legal Definition of boycott

: to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (as a store, business, or organization) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions — see also primary boycott, secondary boycott

Note: A boycott of a business by its competitors, suppliers, or buyers that has the effect of preventing the business's access to the market is a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Other Words from boycott

boycott noun

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More from Merriam-Webster on boycott

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with boycott

Spanish Central: Translation of boycott

Nglish: Translation of boycott for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of boycott for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boycott

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