black mark: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “black mark” mean?
A notation or record of a person's wrongdoing, failure, or transgression.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A notation or record of a person's wrongdoing, failure, or transgression; a figurative mark against one's reputation.
A lasting negative impression or a point of blame that is held against someone, often influencing future decisions regarding their trustworthiness, reliability, or suitability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally common and used identically in both varieties. No significant differences in usage patterns.
Connotations
Both varieties share connotations of formal or semi-formal censure, often from an authority figure or institution.
Frequency
Equal frequency; slightly more common in written and formal spoken contexts than in casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “black mark” in a Sentence
[Subject] get/earn/receive a black mark (for [action])[Subject] have a black mark against [possessive] name/recordVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black mark” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – not standard as a verb
American English
- N/A – not standard as a verb
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A – the phrase functions as a noun. You can have 'a black-mark incident' (hyphenated attributively).
American English
- N/A – the phrase functions as a noun. You can have 'a black-mark event' (hyphenated attributively).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
His missed deadline earned him a black mark with the new management.
Academic
Plagiarism is a serious offense that will result in a permanent black mark on your academic record.
Everyday
Forgetting our anniversary was a real black mark against me—she reminded me for weeks.
Technical
In formal disciplinary procedures, a written warning constitutes a black mark on an employee's file.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black mark”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He was black-marked'). The term is almost exclusively a noun phrase. Confusing it with 'blacklist' (a list of banned people/entities).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the phrase is not considered racially offensive. It uses 'black' in its traditional symbolic sense of 'negative' or 'sinister', dating back centuries (e.g., 'black sheep', 'black day'). Context is always key, but the idiom itself is neutral.
Almost never. Its core semantics are intrinsically negative. Using it positively would be ironic or sarcastic (e.g., 'In this rebellious group, obeying the rules is a black mark').
A 'black mark' is a record of a past fault. A 'red flag' is a warning sign of a potential current or future problem. A red flag might lead to a black mark if ignored.
Yes, it is grammatically correct and used when referring to multiple specific instances of wrongdoing or failure (e.g., 'He had accumulated several black marks on his file').
A notation or record of a person's wrongdoing, failure, or transgression.
Black mark is usually formal to neutral in register.
Black mark: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈmɑːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈmɑːrk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a black mark against one's name”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a teacher's register book. Next to a student's name, instead of a gold star, there's a large, black ink mark (✓) indicating a misdeed. This 'black mark' is a negative record.
Conceptual Metaphor
REPUTATION IS A RECORD / CLEAN SHEET (A fault is a visible, negative mark on this record).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'black mark' LEAST likely to be used?