black sheep
5 synonyms and 2 antonyms for black sheep, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A member of a family or group who is thought of as a disgrace, an embarrassment or simply the odd one out.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
golden boy
favourite
How to use black sheep
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
black sheep of the family
the family black sheep
seen as the black sheep
Informal but not offensive; usually said with a mix of criticism and affection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a black sheep and a scapegoat?
A black sheep is judged for their own behaviour or for simply being different from the rest of the group. A scapegoat is blamed for other people's faults and punished in their place. Someone can be both, but the black sheep is defined by not fitting in, and the scapegoat by carrying blame.
Where does the phrase black sheep come from?
It is generally explained by sheep farming: a dark fleece could not be dyed and so was worth less than white wool, and a black lamb stood out awkwardly in the flock. The figurative use for a disreputable family member has been in English for centuries.
