diff --git a/doc/guides/rel_notes/deprecation.rst b/doc/guides/rel_notes/deprecation.rst
index efb09f0c5e..8eac073591 100644
--- a/doc/guides/rel_notes/deprecation.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/rel_notes/deprecation.rst
@@ -30,19 +30,7 @@ Deprecation Notices
 
 * eal: The terms blacklist and whitelist to describe devices used
   by DPDK will be replaced in the 20.11 relase.
-  This will apply to command line arguments as well as macros.
-
-  The macro ``RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED`` will be replaced with ``RTE_DEV_EXCLUDED``
-  and ``RTE_DEV_WHITELISTED`` will be replaced with ``RTE_DEV_INCLUDED``
-  ``RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLACKLIST`` and ``RTE_BUS_SCAN_WHITELIST`` will be
-  replaced with ``RTE_BUS_SCAN_EXCLUDED`` and ``RTE_BUS_SCAN_INCLUDED``
-  respectively. Likewise ``RTE_DEVTYPE_BLACKLISTED_PCI`` and
-  ``RTE_DEVTYPE_WHITELISTED_PCI`` will be replaced with
-  ``RTE_DEVTYPE_EXCLUDED`` and ``RTE_DEVTYPE_INCLUDED``.
-
-  The old macros will be marked as deprecated in 20.11 and any
-  usage will cause a compile warning. They will be removed in
-  a future release.
+  This will apply to command line arguments.
 
   The command line arguments to ``rte_eal_init`` will change from
   ``-b, --pci-blacklist`` to ``-x, --exclude`` and
diff --git a/drivers/bus/dpaa/dpaa_bus.c b/drivers/bus/dpaa/dpaa_bus.c
index ece6a4c424..3098e23093 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/dpaa/dpaa_bus.c
+++ b/drivers/bus/dpaa/dpaa_bus.c
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ rte_dpaa_bus_probe(void)
 	struct rte_dpaa_driver *drv;
 	FILE *svr_file = NULL;
 	unsigned int svr_ver;
-	int probe_all = rte_dpaa_bus.bus.conf.scan_mode != RTE_BUS_SCAN_WHITELIST;
+	int probe_all = rte_dpaa_bus.bus.conf.scan_mode != RTE_BUS_SCAN_ALLOWLIST;
 	static int process_once;
 
 	/* If DPAA bus is not present nothing needs to be done */
@@ -646,13 +646,12 @@ rte_dpaa_bus_probe(void)
 
 			if (!drv->probe ||
 			    (dev->device.devargs &&
-			    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED))
+			     dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLOCKED))
 				continue;
 
 			if (probe_all ||
 			    (dev->device.devargs &&
-			    dev->device.devargs->policy ==
-			    RTE_DEV_WHITELISTED)) {
+			     dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_ALLOWED)) {
 				ret = drv->probe(drv, dev);
 				if (ret) {
 					DPAA_BUS_ERR("unable to probe:%s",
diff --git a/drivers/bus/fslmc/fslmc_bus.c b/drivers/bus/fslmc/fslmc_bus.c
index db93669628..58435589b2 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/fslmc/fslmc_bus.c
+++ b/drivers/bus/fslmc/fslmc_bus.c
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ rte_fslmc_probe(void)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	probe_all = rte_fslmc_bus.bus.conf.scan_mode != RTE_BUS_SCAN_WHITELIST;
+	probe_all = rte_fslmc_bus.bus.conf.scan_mode != RTE_BUS_SCAN_ALLOWLIST;
 
 	/* In case of PA, the FD addresses returned by qbman APIs are physical
 	 * addresses, which need conversion into equivalent VA address for
@@ -451,16 +451,15 @@ rte_fslmc_probe(void)
 				continue;
 
 			if (dev->device.devargs &&
-			  dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED) {
-				DPAA2_BUS_LOG(DEBUG, "%s Blacklisted, skipping",
+			    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLOCKED) {
+				DPAA2_BUS_LOG(DEBUG, "%s Blocked, skipping",
 					      dev->device.name);
 				continue;
 			}
 
 			if (probe_all ||
 			   (dev->device.devargs &&
-			   dev->device.devargs->policy ==
-			   RTE_DEV_WHITELISTED)) {
+			    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_ALLOWED)) {
 				ret = drv->probe(drv, dev);
 				if (ret) {
 					DPAA2_BUS_ERR("Unable to probe");
diff --git a/drivers/bus/fslmc/fslmc_vfio.c b/drivers/bus/fslmc/fslmc_vfio.c
index aba55b46d8..b52f36c33e 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/fslmc/fslmc_vfio.c
+++ b/drivers/bus/fslmc/fslmc_vfio.c
@@ -812,13 +812,13 @@ fslmc_vfio_process_group(void)
 		if (dev->dev_type == DPAA2_MPORTAL) {
 			dpmcp_count++;
 			if (dev->device.devargs &&
-			    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED)
+			    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLOCKED)
 				is_dpmcp_in_blocklist = true;
 		}
 		if (dev->dev_type == DPAA2_IO) {
 			dpio_count++;
 			if (dev->device.devargs &&
-			    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED)
+			    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLOCKED)
 				is_dpio_in_blocklist = true;
 		}
 	}
@@ -829,8 +829,8 @@ fslmc_vfio_process_group(void)
 		if (dev->dev_type == DPAA2_MPORTAL) {
 			current_device++;
 			if (dev->device.devargs &&
-			    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED) {
-				DPAA2_BUS_LOG(DEBUG, "%s Blacklisted, skipping",
+			    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLOCKED) {
+				DPAA2_BUS_LOG(DEBUG, "%s Blocked, skipping",
 					      dev->device.name);
 				TAILQ_REMOVE(&rte_fslmc_bus.device_list,
 						dev, next);
@@ -876,8 +876,8 @@ fslmc_vfio_process_group(void)
 		if (dev->dev_type == DPAA2_IO)
 			current_device++;
 		if (dev->device.devargs &&
-		    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED) {
-			DPAA2_BUS_LOG(DEBUG, "%s Blacklisted, skipping",
+		    dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLOCKED) {
+			DPAA2_BUS_LOG(DEBUG, "%s Blocked, skipping",
 				      dev->device.name);
 			TAILQ_REMOVE(&rte_fslmc_bus.device_list, dev, next);
 			continue;
diff --git a/drivers/bus/pci/pci_common.c b/drivers/bus/pci/pci_common.c
index 39eea464b4..b24c069713 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/pci/pci_common.c
+++ b/drivers/bus/pci/pci_common.c
@@ -67,9 +67,8 @@ pci_name_set(struct rte_pci_device *dev)
 			dev->name, sizeof(dev->name));
 	devargs = pci_devargs_lookup(&dev->addr);
 	dev->device.devargs = devargs;
-	/* In blacklist mode, if the device is not blacklisted, no
-	 * rte_devargs exists for it.
-	 */
+
+	/* If the device is blocked, no rte_devargs exists for it. */
 	if (devargs != NULL)
 		/* If an rte_devargs exists, the generic rte_device uses the
 		 * given name as its name.
@@ -172,7 +171,7 @@ rte_pci_probe_one_driver(struct rte_pci_driver *dr,
 
 	loc = &dev->addr;
 
-	/* The device is not blacklisted; Check if driver supports it */
+	/* The device is not blocked; Check if driver supports it */
 	if (!rte_pci_match(dr, dev))
 		/* Match of device and driver failed */
 		return 1;
@@ -181,12 +180,10 @@ rte_pci_probe_one_driver(struct rte_pci_driver *dr,
 			loc->domain, loc->bus, loc->devid, loc->function,
 			dev->device.numa_node);
 
-	/* no initialization when blacklisted, return without error */
+	/* no initialization when marked as blocked, return without error */
 	if (dev->device.devargs != NULL &&
-		dev->device.devargs->policy ==
-			RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED) {
-		RTE_LOG(INFO, EAL, "  Device is blacklisted, not"
-			" initializing\n");
+		dev->device.devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLOCKED) {
+		RTE_LOG(INFO, EAL, "  Device is blocked, not initializing\n");
 		return 1;
 	}
 
@@ -629,14 +626,13 @@ rte_pci_ignore_device(const struct rte_pci_addr *pci_addr)
 	struct rte_devargs *devargs = pci_devargs_lookup(pci_addr);
 
 	switch (rte_pci_bus.bus.conf.scan_mode) {
-	case RTE_BUS_SCAN_WHITELIST:
-		if (devargs && devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_WHITELISTED)
+	case RTE_BUS_SCAN_ALLOWLIST:
+		if (devargs && devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_ALLOWED)
 			return false;
 		break;
 	case RTE_BUS_SCAN_UNDEFINED:
-	case RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLACKLIST:
-		if (devargs == NULL ||
-		    devargs->policy != RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED)
+	case RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLOCKLIST:
+		if (devargs == NULL || devargs->policy != RTE_DEV_BLOCKED)
 			return false;
 		break;
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/bus/vmbus/vmbus_common.c b/drivers/bus/vmbus/vmbus_common.c
index 4c9ac33ac6..b31678ad05 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/vmbus/vmbus_common.c
+++ b/drivers/bus/vmbus/vmbus_common.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ vmbus_probe_one_driver(struct rte_vmbus_driver *dr,
 	VMBUS_LOG(INFO, "VMBUS device %s on NUMA socket %i",
 		  guid, dev->device.numa_node);
 
-	/* TODO add blacklisted */
+	/* TODO add block/allow logic */
 
 	/* map resources for device */
 	ret = rte_vmbus_map_device(dev);
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ rte_vmbus_probe(void)
 
 		rte_uuid_unparse(dev->device_id, ubuf, sizeof(ubuf));
 
-		/* TODO: add whitelist/blacklist */
+		/* TODO: add allowlist/blocklist */
 
 		if (vmbus_probe_all_drivers(dev) < 0) {
 			VMBUS_LOG(NOTICE,
diff --git a/drivers/crypto/virtio/virtio_pci.c b/drivers/crypto/virtio/virtio_pci.c
index f490f6e289..ae069794a6 100644
--- a/drivers/crypto/virtio/virtio_pci.c
+++ b/drivers/crypto/virtio/virtio_pci.c
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ virtio_read_caps(struct rte_pci_device *dev, struct virtio_crypto_hw *hw)
  * Return -1:
  *   if there is error mapping with VFIO/UIO.
  *   if port map error when driver type is KDRV_NONE.
- *   if whitelisted but driver type is KDRV_UNKNOWN.
+ *   if marked as allowed but driver type is KDRV_UNKNOWN.
  * Return 1 if kernel driver is managing the device.
  * Return 0 on success.
  */
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_pci.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_pci.c
index 9915eabf68..d6b950ee69 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_pci.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_pci.c
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ virtio_read_caps(struct rte_pci_device *dev, struct virtio_hw *hw)
  * Return -1:
  *   if there is error mapping with VFIO/UIO.
  *   if port map error when driver type is KDRV_NONE.
- *   if whitelisted but driver type is KDRV_UNKNOWN.
+ *   if marked as allowed but driver type is KDRV_UNKNOWN.
  * Return 1 if kernel driver is managing the device.
  * Return 0 on success.
  */
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_devargs.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_devargs.c
index 2123773ef8..fcf3d9a3cc 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_devargs.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_devargs.c
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ rte_devargs_insert(struct rte_devargs **da)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/* store a whitelist parameter for later parsing */
+/* store in allowed list parameter for later parsing */
 int
 rte_devargs_add(enum rte_devtype devtype, const char *devargs_str)
 {
@@ -313,13 +313,13 @@ rte_devargs_add(enum rte_devtype devtype, const char *devargs_str)
 		goto fail;
 	devargs->type = devtype;
 	bus = devargs->bus;
-	if (devargs->type == RTE_DEVTYPE_BLACKLISTED_PCI)
-		devargs->policy = RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED;
+	if (devargs->type == RTE_DEVTYPE_BLOCKED)
+		devargs->policy = RTE_DEV_BLOCKED;
 	if (bus->conf.scan_mode == RTE_BUS_SCAN_UNDEFINED) {
-		if (devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_WHITELISTED)
-			bus->conf.scan_mode = RTE_BUS_SCAN_WHITELIST;
-		else if (devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED)
-			bus->conf.scan_mode = RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLACKLIST;
+		if (devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_ALLOWED)
+			bus->conf.scan_mode = RTE_BUS_SCAN_ALLOWLIST;
+		else if (devargs->policy == RTE_DEV_BLOCKED)
+			bus->conf.scan_mode = RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLOCKLIST;
 	}
 	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&devargs_list, devargs, next);
 	return 0;
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c
index 7b33416836..47b3eb1ccb 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c
@@ -1455,7 +1455,7 @@ eal_parse_common_option(int opt, const char *optarg,
 	case 'b':
 		if (w_used)
 			goto bw_used;
-		if (eal_option_device_add(RTE_DEVTYPE_BLACKLISTED_PCI,
+		if (eal_option_device_add(RTE_DEVTYPE_BLOCKED,
 				optarg) < 0) {
 			return -1;
 		}
@@ -1465,7 +1465,7 @@ eal_parse_common_option(int opt, const char *optarg,
 	case 'w':
 		if (b_used)
 			goto bw_used;
-		if (eal_option_device_add(RTE_DEVTYPE_WHITELISTED_PCI,
+		if (eal_option_device_add(RTE_DEVTYPE_ALLOWED,
 				optarg) < 0) {
 			return -1;
 		}
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_bus.h b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_bus.h
index d3034d0edf..80b154fb98 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_bus.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_bus.h
@@ -215,10 +215,16 @@ typedef int (*rte_bus_sigbus_handler_t)(const void *failure_addr);
  */
 enum rte_bus_scan_mode {
 	RTE_BUS_SCAN_UNDEFINED,
-	RTE_BUS_SCAN_WHITELIST,
-	RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLACKLIST,
+	RTE_BUS_SCAN_ALLOWLIST,
+	RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLOCKLIST,
 };
 
+/* Backwards compatibility will be removed */
+#define RTE_BUS_SCAN_WHITELIST \
+	RTE_DEPRECATED(RTE_BUS_SCAN_WHITELIST) RTE_BUS_SCAN_ALLOWLIST
+#define RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLACKLIST \
+	RTE_DEPRECATED(RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLACKLIST) RTE_BUS_SCAN_BLOCKLIST
+
 /**
  * A structure used to configure bus operations.
  */
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_dev.h b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_dev.h
index 81905b3ae3..6dd72c11a1 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_dev.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_dev.h
@@ -52,10 +52,16 @@ typedef void (*rte_dev_event_cb_fn)(const char *device_name,
  * Device policies.
  */
 enum rte_dev_policy {
-	RTE_DEV_WHITELISTED,
-	RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED,
+	RTE_DEV_ALLOWED,
+	RTE_DEV_BLOCKED,
 };
 
+/* Backwards compatibility will be removed */
+#define RTE_DEV_WHITELISTED \
+	RTE_DEPRECATED(RTE_DEV_WHITELISTED) RTE_DEV_ALLOWED
+#define RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED \
+	RTE_DEPRECATED(RTE_DEV_BLACKLISTED) RTE_DEV_BLOCKED
+
 /**
  * A generic memory resource representation.
  */
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_devargs.h b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_devargs.h
index 898efa0d66..296f19324f 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_devargs.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_devargs.h
@@ -29,11 +29,17 @@ extern "C" {
  * Type of generic device
  */
 enum rte_devtype {
-	RTE_DEVTYPE_WHITELISTED_PCI,
-	RTE_DEVTYPE_BLACKLISTED_PCI,
+	RTE_DEVTYPE_ALLOWED,
+	RTE_DEVTYPE_BLOCKED,
 	RTE_DEVTYPE_VIRTUAL,
 };
 
+/* Backwards compatibility will be removed later */
+#define RTE_DEVTYPE_WHITELISTED_PCI \
+	RTE_DEPRECATED(RTE_DEVTYPE_WHITELISTED_PCI) RTE_DEVTYPE_ALLOWED
+#define RTE_DEVTYPE_BLACKLISTED_PCI \
+	RTE_DEPRECATED(RTE_DEVTYPE_BLACKLISTED_PCI) RTE_DEVTYPE_BLOCKED
+
 /**
  * Structure that stores a device given by the user with its arguments
  *
