noun
black sheep
blak SHEEP
Black sheep (noun) means a member of a family or group who is thought of as a disgrace, an embarrassment or simply the odd one out. Example: “He was the black sheep of the family, the only one who never went to university.”
noun
1
informal A member of a family or group who is thought of as a disgrace, an embarrassment or simply the odd one out.
"He was the black sheep of the family, the only one who never went to university."
"Every department has its black sheep."
2
A sheep with a dark fleece, whose wool was traditionally worth less because it could not be dyed.
"A single black sheep stood out among the white flock."
How to use black sheep
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe person in a family or group who does not fit in and is looked down on.
When to use it
Informal but not offensive; usually said with a mix of criticism and affection.
Memory tip
The phrase is almost always followed by of the family or of the group.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
black sheep of the family
the family black sheep
seen as the black sheep
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He was the _____ of the family, the only one who never went to university.
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Rhymes for black sheep
See all rhymes for black sheep →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.
What is the meaning of black sheep?
"black sheep" (noun) means a member of a family or group who is thought of as a disgrace, an embarrassment or simply the odd one out.
What is another word for black sheep?
Other words for "black sheep" include outcast, misfit, odd one out, pariah, reprobate.
