Blackmail

/ˈblækmeɪl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The act of demanding payment or another benefit from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them.

He was a victim of blackmail after someone discovered his secret.

The use of threats to force someone to act against their will.

The politician faced allegations of blackmail regarding a past scandal.

verb

To demand money or another benefit from someone in return for not revealing damaging information about them.

She was accused of trying to blackmail him over the photographs.

To coerce someone into acting against their will by using threatening behavior.

The criminal blackmailed the owner into paying for protection services.

The term derives from 'black' meaning 'illegal' and 'mail' derived from 'male', which means 'payment'.

to blackmail someone

To extort money or favors from someone by intimidation.

blackmail letter

A written threat demanding payment to prevent the revelation of secret information.

victim of blackmail

Someone who is being coerced or extorted.

extortion

The practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.

coercion

The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.

get someone to pay up

He managed to get her to pay up by threatening to expose her secrets.

fishing for cash

The guy was just fishing for cash with those threats.