boycott
B2Formal to neutral; common in news, academic, and political discourse.
Definition
Meaning
To refuse to buy, use, or participate in something as a form of protest or punishment.
A concerted, organized refusal to engage with a person, company, organization, product, or nation, intended to express disapproval and force change.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a collective, organized action rather than an individual choice. Historically and conceptually linked to political, economic, or social protest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly associated with civil rights, labour movements, and international politics.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English due to its political/journalistic nature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[TRANSITIVE VERB] boycott + noun (e.g., boycott goods)[PASSIVE] be boycotted by + group[NOUN] a boycott of + targetVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(no specific idioms; the word itself is used literally)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Consumers may boycott a company over unethical practices, affecting its sales.
Academic
The study analysed the socio-economic impact of the agricultural boycott.
Everyday
We're boycotting that supermarket because of how they treat their staff.
Technical
The trade union initiated a secondary boycott against the supplier.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The union voted to boycott the new workplace regulations.
- Several nations threatened to boycott the conference over the visa issue.
American English
- Activists are urging people to boycott the brand over its labor practices.
- The team decided to boycott the awards ceremony in protest.
adjective
British English
- The boycott movement gained significant traction online.
- They discussed potential boycott actions at the meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- They decided to boycott the shop.
- The boycott was in the news.
- Many people are boycotting the company's products because of the scandal.
- The athlete's comments led to calls for a boycott of the event.
- The international community imposed a cultural boycott on the regime.
- Organisers fear the boycott will severely undermine the exhibition's legitimacy.
- The nuanced strategy of the boycott aimed not to cripple the local economy but to pressure the ruling elite.
- Historians often cite the Montgomery Bus Boycott as a seminal event in the civil rights movement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember Captain BOYCOTT: the man whose name became the verb for refusing to deal with someone.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL/ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP IS A CONNECTION (to boycott is to SEVER/CUT that connection).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'бойкот' (сущ.) – прямое заимствование, но глагол 'бойкотировать' часто используется шире, чем английский 'boycott', который подразумевает скоординированный публичный отказ.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for an individual, non-protest decision (e.g., 'I boycott broccoli' is incorrect).
- Confusing with 'embargo' (which is usually government-imposed).
Practice
Quiz
What is the essential element of a 'boycott'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originates from Captain Charles C. Boycott (1832–1897), a British land agent in Ireland who was socially and economically ostracised by the local community during the Irish Land League agitation.
Yes, it is commonly used as both (e.g., 'to boycott elections' (verb) and 'to organise a boycott' (noun)).
A strike is a work stoppage by employees. A boycott is a refusal by consumers, buyers, or the general public to engage with a target. A strike is typically labour-focused; a boycott can target anything.
No, the standard patterns are 'boycott something' (verb) or 'a boycott of something' (noun). 'Boycott from' is a common learner error.