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Definition of blackmailer

blackmailer

/ˈblækmeɪlər/
black · mail · er
Plural:blackmailers
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blackmailer Lexical Profile

blackmailer Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who demands money or another benefit from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them.

Example

"Instead of paying the blackmailer, the executive reported the threatening messages directly to the police."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for blackmailer

• Nearby Words

blacklister
blackly
blackmail
blackmailer
blackness
blackout
blackshirts

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the verb 'blackmail' plus the agentive suffix '-er'. The term 'blackmail' originated in the 16th-century Scottish Borders, combining 'black' (referring to illicit or evil dealings) with Middle English 'male' (meaning rent or tribute, from Old Norse 'mál', meaning speech or agreement), originally denoting protection money demanded by clan chiefs in exchange for immunity from plundering.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Blackmailer. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/blackmailer
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