Definition of blackmail Blackmail

/blæˈkmejˌl/ - [blakmeyl] - black•mail

We found 14 definitions of blackmail from 6 different sources.

What does blackmail mean?

Noun Plural: blackmails
blackmail - extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information
		extortion the felonious act of extorting money (as by threats of violence)
Verb blackmails, blackmailing, blackmailed
blackmail - exert pressure on someone through threats
		blackjack, pressure
		act upon, influence, work have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends to support the political candidate"
blackmail - obtain through threats
		extort get or cause to become in a difficult or laborious manner
		criminal offence, criminal offense, law-breaking, crime, offence, offense (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes"

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blackmail (Noun)
A certain rate of money, corn, cattle, or other thing, anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to certain men who were allied to robbers, or moss troopers, to be by them protected from pillage.
blackmail (Noun)
Payment of money exacted by means of intimidation; also, extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation, exposure, or censure.
blackmail (Noun)
Black rent, or rent paid in corn, flesh, or the lowest coin, as opposed to white rent , which paid in silver.
blackmail (Verb)
To extort money from by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, such as injury to reputation, distress of mind, false accusation, etc. ; as, to blackmail a merchant by threatening to expose an alleged fraud.

blackmail (n.)
A certain rate of money, corn, cattle, or other thing, anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to certain men who were allied to robbers, or moss troopers, to be by them protected from pillage.
blackmail (n.)
Payment of money exacted by means of intimidation; also, extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation, exposure, or censure.
blackmail (n.)
Black rent, or rent paid in corn, flesh, or the lowest coin, a opposed to "white rent", which paid in silver.
blackmail (v. t.)
To extort money from by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation, distress of mind, etc.; as, to blackmail a merchant by threatening to expose an alleged fraud.

blackmail
blak′māl, n. rent or tribute formerly paid to robbers for protection: hush-money extorted under threat of exposure or denunciation, esp. of a baseless charge.—v.t. to extort money from a person by this expedient. [Black and A.S. mal, tribute, toll.]

Blackmail means threatening to say something bad about someone unless that person pays some money.

If someone has committed a crime, another person might blackmail them. The blackmailer might, for example, say that if the criminal does not give them a large amount of money they will tell the police.

A blackmailer may threaten to say something embarrassing about someone unless they hand over a sum of money. It may be something about a sexual relation they are having that they do not want everyone to know about.

Sometimes a business may blackmail another business. They might threaten to harm that business in some way unless money is paid.

Blackmail is clearly very nasty illegal (against the law).

History.

Blackmail started on the borders of England and Scotland. Blackmail was the money left out by landowners in England so that raiders from Scotland did not steal their animals or damage the property.