Definition of boycott Boycott

/bɔjˈkɑˌt/ - [boykat] - boy•cott

We found 11 definitions of boycott from 7 different sources.

What does boycott mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: boycotts
boycott - a group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest against its policies
		dissent, protest, objection a difference of opinion
Verb boycotts, boycotting, boycotted
boycott - refuse to sponsor; refuse to do business with
		buy at, shop at, frequent, sponsor, patronise, patronize, shop be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place; "She haunts the ballet"
		ostracise, ostracize avoid speaking to or dealing with; "Ever since I spoke up, my colleagues ostracize me"

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Wiktionary

boycott (Noun)
The act of boycotting.
boycott (Verb)
To abstain, either as an individual or group, from using, buying, or dealing with someone or some organization as an expression of protest.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

boycott (v. t.)
To combine against (a landlord, tradesman, employer, or other person), to withhold social or business relations from him, and to deter others from holding such relations; to subject to a boycott.
boycott (n.)
The process, fact, or pressure of boycotting; a combining to withhold or prevent dealing or social intercourse with a tradesman, employer, etc.; social and business interdiction for the purpose of coercion.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

boycott
Social, economic, or political noncooperation.
boycott
To refuse to buy products of or do business with.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

boycott
boy′kot, v.t. to shut out from all social and commercial intercourse—a kind of secular excommunication. [From Captain Boycott of County Mayo, who was so treated by his neighbours in Dec. 1880.]

Wikipedia

A boycott is a protest where the protesters do not buy a product or give money to a company. Instead of buying a certain product, they might also buy another, very similar product from a different company.

The word was made during the "Irish Land War. It comes from the name of Captain Charles Boycott. Boycott was in charge of looking after the land of a landlord in County Mayo, Ireland. In 1880, the tenants (those who rented) wanted their rent lowered. Boycott refused, and threw them out of the land they had rented. The Irish Land League then proposed that instead of becoming violent, everyone in the community should stop doing business with Captain Boycott. The captain was soon isolated. No one helped him with the harvest, no one worked in his stables or his house. Local businessmen no longer traded with him, the postman no longer delivered his post.

To get his harvest done, he had to hire 50 people from other counties, the counties Cavan and Monaghan. They were escorted to and from their work by 1000 policemen. Of course, this cost far more than what the harvest was worth.

In 1881 the word came into general use.

Part of speech

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boycott, verb, present, 1st person singular of boycott (infinitive).
boycott, verb (infinitive).
boycott, noun, singular of boycotts.

Pronunciation

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Sign Language

boycott in sign language

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