Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

the black sheep

idiom
/ðə blæk ʃiːp/
Definition
A person who is considered odd or different from the rest of their family or group.
Examples
  • Even though he became a successful artist, he always felt like the black sheep of his family.
  • She was often called the black sheep because her career choices were very different from the rest of her siblings.
Meaning
The term is often used to describe someone who is not accepted by their family or group due to behavior that is seen as unusual or unacceptable.
Synonyms
  • outcast
  • pariah
  • misfit
  • black sheep of the family