BLACK SHEEP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does black sheep mean? 

• BLACK SHEEP (noun)
  The noun BLACK SHEEP has 2 senses:

1. a reckless and unprincipled reprobate

2. sheep with a black coat

  Familiarity information: BLACK SHEEP used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BLACK SHEEP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A reckless and unprincipled reprobate

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

black sheep; scapegrace

Hypernyms ("black sheep" is a kind of...):

miscreant; reprobate (a person without moral scruples)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Sheep with a black coat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("black sheep" is a kind of...):

sheep (woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat)

 Context examples 

He had called Martin the black sheep of the family and repudiated him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I don't know whether the shearing sobered our black sheep, but I do know that in all Washington I couldn't find anything beautiful enough to be bought with the five-and-twenty dollars my good girl sent me.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)