boycott
gb/bˈɔɪkˌɑt/ us/bˈɔɪkˌɑt/
B2
English
~ 7100
bojkottál, bojkott
VERB
B2
1
bojkottál
B2
Usage pattern:
to boycott [something]
Several major artists announced they would boycott the awards ceremony over its lack of diversity.
Több neves művész bejelentette, hogy bojkottálni fogja a díjátadót a sokszínűség hiánya miatt.
Environmental groups are urging consumers to boycott brands that use unsustainable palm oil.
Környezetvédő csoportok arra ösztönzik a fogyasztókat, hogy bojkottálják azokat a márkákat, amelyek nem fenntartható módon előállított pálmaolajat használnak.
Opposition parties decided to boycott the election, saying it would not be free or fair.
Many fans chose to boycott the game after ticket prices were increased.
Some parents are boycotting the school cafeteria until healthier food is offered.
Learner examples
Some people want to boycott the store because it treats workers badly.
Vannak, akik bojkottálni akarják a boltot, mert rosszul bánik a dolgozóival.
The students decided to boycott the class to protest the new rules.
A diákok úgy döntöttek, hogy bojkottálják az órát, hogy tiltakozzanak az új szabályok ellen.
She said she will boycott that brand after the scandal.
They plan to boycott the meeting to show they are angry.
Many customers are boycotting the company’s products this year.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add a preposition after the verb and say *"boycott against something"*. This is incorrect. Use the verb directly with an object: *"They are boycotting the company"*, not *"They are boycotting against the company"*. Also, do not use it to mean any kind of protest that still involves buying or taking part; a boycott means you refuse to buy, use, or join.
Meaning
refuse to deal with in protest
Collocations
boycott a company
|boycott a product
|boycott an event
|boycott elections
|boycott the meeting
|boycott the tournament
Synonyms
shun (focuses on deliberately avoiding someone or something, often socially or morally, and is less strongly linked to organized protest.)
Antonyms
patronize (means to be a customer of or regularly support a business, which is the opposite of refusing to use it.)
Themes
politics
|society
|business
|activism
|law
Definition
to not buy, use, or go to something as a protest or to show you do not agree
To refuse to buy, use, or take part in something, especially as a form of protest or to pressure a person, company, or country to change its behavior.
NOUN
B2
2
bojkott
B2
Usage pattern:
a boycott of [something]
Activists launched a global boycott of the company after reports of child labor.
Aktivisták globális bojkottot indítottak a vállalat ellen, miután gyermekmunkáról szóló beszámolók jelentek meg.
The government announced a boycott of imported goods in response to the sanctions.
A kormány a szankciókra válaszul bejelentette az importáruk bojkottját.
Several celebrities joined the boycott, bringing it a lot of media attention.
After months of negotiations, unions agreed to call off the boycott.
The threat of a consumer boycott forced the brand to change its advertising campaign.
Learner examples
There is a boycott of that supermarket this week.
Ezen a héten bojkottálják azt a szupermarketet.
Students started a boycott of the cafeteria food.
A diákok bojkottot indítottak a menzai ételek ellen.
Many people joined the boycott after reading the news.
The group called for a boycott of the new product.
They ended the boycott when the company said sorry.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use the wrong preposition and say *"a boycott against something"*. The more natural pattern is *"a boycott of something"*: *"a boycott of the company’s products"*, not *"a boycott against the company’s products"*.
Meaning
organized protest by not using something
Collocations
call for a boycott
|organize a boycott
|join the boycott
|lift the boycott
|impose a boycott
|consumer boycott
Synonyms
embargo (often used for official government bans, especially in international trade; more formal and legal than "boycott".)
Antonyms
support (means active backing or approval, often by buying or joining, which opposes the idea of refusing to buy or join.)
Themes
politics
|society
|business
|activism
|law
Definition
a plan where many people do not buy, use, or go to something to show they are unhappy or to make someone change
An organized act or campaign in which people refuse to buy, use, or take part in something, especially to protest or to pressure a person, company, or country to change its behavior.
Grammar
Dictionary form
boycott
IPA
GB/bˈɔɪkˌɑt/
US/bˈɔɪkˌɑt/
Syllables & stress
boy - cott (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (boy)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: boycott
- Plural: boycotts
Verb
- Base: boycott
- 3rd Person Singular: boycotts
- Present Participle: boycotting
- Past: boycotted
Word family
Forms
boycotts
noun
boycotting
verb
boycotted
verb
Related words
boycotter
noun
Expressions
call for a boycott
1/kˈɔl fɚ ə bˈɔɪkˌɑt/
fixed phrase
publicly ask people to boycott
to say in public that people should not buy, use, or go to something as a protest
Examples
- Human rights groups are calling for a boycott of the upcoming tournament.
- Several politicians have called for a boycott of the new tax by small businesses.
- Online campaigners quickly called for a boycott after the video went viral.
impose a boycott
1/ɪmpˈoʊz ə bˈɔɪkˌɑt/
fixed phrase
formal
officially start a boycott
for a government or other power to officially say that people must not buy or trade with someone or something
Examples
- The country imposed a boycott on luxury imports in response to the conflict.
- Several organizations imposed a boycott on the event until safety conditions improved.
join the boycott
1/d͡ʒˈɔɪn ðə bˈɔɪkˌɑt/
fixed phrase
start taking part in a boycott
to decide to not buy, use, or go to something together with other people who are already boycotting it
Examples
- Several major retailers decided to join the boycott after seeing customer reactions.
- More and more students are joining the boycott of plastic bottles on campus.
lift a boycott
1/lˈɪft ə bˈɔɪkˌɑt/
fixed phrase
end an existing boycott
to say that a boycott is finished so people can start buying, using, or joining again
Examples
- The union agreed to lift the boycott after reaching a new contract.
- International partners urged the government to lift the boycott on foreign media.