a person who is regarded as a disgrace or failure by his or her family or peer group
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ˈblack ˈsheep, n. [countable], pl. black sheep.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- one who causes embarrassment to his or her group or family because of bad behavior.
black′ sheep′,
- Animal Husbandrya sheep with black fleece.
- a person who causes shame or embarrassment because of deviation from the accepted standards of his or her group.
- 1785–95
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