black-sheep
UK[ˌblæk ˈʃiːp]US[ˌblæk ˈʃiːp]
n
A member of a family or group who is regarded as a disgrace or a failure because they are different from the others.
Morpheme Breakdown
black
sheep
black
color
sheep
animal
Etymology
The term is a compound noun formed from two Old English words. The metaphor originates from the literal observation that a black sheep in a flock of white sheep is an anomaly, standing out as different and often considered less valuable because its wool cannot be dyed. By the late 18th century, this literal distinction was applied figuratively to people, solidifying the modern meaning of a disreputable or wayward member within a family or community. The logic connects the visual and economic undesirability of a literal black sheep to the social disapproval of a nonconforming individual.
Analysis
Structure: black (color) + sheep (animal)
'Black' is from Old English 'blæc', meaning the darkest color, often associated with negative qualities. 'Sheep' is from Old English 'scēap', a domesticated ruminant animal.
Examples
He was always considered the black sheep of the family because he chose an artistic career over joining the family business.
Every group of friends seems to have a black sheep who never quite fits in.
Despite being the black sheep at the reunion, she was ultimately the most successful of all her siblings.