ostracize

[ os-truh-sahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, os·tra·cized, os·tra·ciz·ing.

1. to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges, etc.:

   His friends ostracized him after his father's arrest.

   Synonyms: blacklist, snub, shun

   Antonyms: accept

2. to banish (a person) from their native country; expatriate.
3. (in ancient Greece) to banish (a citizen) temporarily by popular vote.

ostracize

/ ˈɒstrəˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to exclude or banish (a person) from a particular group, society, etc
2. (in ancient Greece) to punish by temporary exile

Derived Forms

• ˈostracism, noun
• ˈostraˌcizable, adjective
• ˈostraˌcizer, noun

Other Words From

• os·tra·ciz·a·ble adjective
• os·tra·ci·za·tion [os-tr, uh, -sahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• os·tra·ciz·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ostracize¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Greek ostrakízein, equivalent to óstrak(on) “potsherd, tile, ballot” (akin to óstreion oyster ( def ) ) + -izein -ize ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ostracize¹

C17: from Greek ostrakizein to select someone for banishment by voting on potsherds; see ostracon

Example Sentences

Young men at the event were wary of speaking on the record for fear of potential impacts on their romantic prospects and the notion that they might be ostracized at work.

From Salon

Historically, mixed-race Koreans have been ostracized in Korean culture, and in the U.S. less so, but still, there was this sense that they didn’t really feel like they belonged in either culture.

From Los Angeles Times

Until Kennedy, courts prohibited school prayer because of the coercive pressure it put on atheist, Jewish, Muslim and other non-Christian students to either pray along or be ostracized.

From Salon

Akin, a Swedish filmmaker whose family originally hails from Georgia, knows this is a story tinged with sadness for lives that have been ostracized and marginalized.

From Los Angeles Times

And then they find themselves lost and isolated and ostracized.

From Salon

Related Words

• blackball
• blacklist
• exclude
• excommunicate
• expel
• shun
• snub