Blackmail

Quick meaning: Blackmail is a noun meaning The extortion of money or favors by threats of public accusation, critique, or exposure.

Meaning

The extortion of money or favors by threats of public accusation, critique, or exposure.

More Meanings

1. (by extension) Compromising material that can be used to extort someone.
2. (England law, historical) Black rent; rent paid in corn, meat, or the lowest coin, as opposed to white rent, which was paid in silver.
3. (Kenya) To speak ill of someone; to defame someone.
4. (transitive) To extort money or favors from (a person) by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, such as injury to reputation, distress of mind, false accusation, etc.
5. (archaic) A form of protection money (or corn, cattle, etc.) anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to the allies of robbers in order to be spared from pillage.

Example Sentences

He blackmailed a businesswoman by threatening to expose an alleged fraud.

Word Forms

• blackmails
• blackmailing
• blackmailed

Synonyms for blackmail

Depending on context, synonyms include pressure, blackjack.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include pressure, blackjack, extortion, extort, coercion, racketeering.

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