What does boycott mean?
To boycott is to deliberately refuse to buy goods from, deal with, or take part in something as a means of protest or pressure. The word functions both as a verb and as a noun describing such a campaign itself. Boycotts are typically organized and public, distinguishing them from simple individual avoidance; they may target companies, products, events, or even elections, and they have long been a tool of consumer activism, labor movements, and international diplomacy. The term has a striking origin: it comes from Captain Charles Boycott, an English estate manager in nineteenth-century Ireland whose community collectively shunned him during a land dispute, turning his name into a verb adopted by languages around the world. Today 'boycott' is a standard, widely understood word in journalism, politics, and everyday speech, carrying connotations of principled, collective action rather than casual dislike.
To refuse to buy, use, attend, or deal with a person, company, product, or event as an expression of protest or to force a change.
"Students boycotted classes to demand lower tuition fees."
Usually takes a direct object; often used in passive constructions such as 'the product was boycotted'.
An organized, collective refusal to buy, use, or participate in something, undertaken as a protest or to apply economic or social pressure.
"The month-long boycott forced the airline to reverse its baggage fees."
Commonly paired with verbs like 'call', 'launch', 'organize', and 'join'.
Standard plural, referring to multiple distinct campaigns of organized refusal.
"History records several successful boycotts against unfair trade practices."
The word 'boycott' is named after Captain Charles Boycott, an English land agent whose tenants in 1880s Ireland refused to deal with him — making him so infamous that his own surname became a global verb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of boycott
Unlike most English words, 'boycott' is an eponym: it derives directly from the surname of Captain Charles Boycott, a land agent in County Mayo, Ireland. In 1880, after he refused demands for rent reductions, local tenants and shopkeepers withdrew all cooperation with him, leaving him isolated. Journalists reporting on the affair popularized his name as a term for organized ostracism, and it spread rapidly into other languages. Because it comes from a proper noun rather than an ancient root, it has no true cognates.
Related word forms
How boycott is actually used
'Boycott' carries a deliberate, organized connotation — it implies coordinated action aimed at exerting pressure, not mere personal avoidance. It is neutral-to-positive in most political contexts but can be framed negatively depending on viewpoint. Both verb and noun are standard in formal and informal registers worldwide.
Easily confused with boycott
A boycott is a voluntary refusal by individuals or groups to engage with someone or something as protest, whereas an embargo is an official government ban on trade.