English · Idiom Attested

black sheep

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Shameful person.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

người đáng hổ thẹn

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used Widespread English

Sources & notes

Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review. Figurative class: Metaphor (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

a "bad lot," "mauvais sujet;" sometimes "scabby sheep;" also a workman who refuses to join in a strike.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Sheep Black & white Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “black sheep” mean?

Shameful person.

Is “black sheep” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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