ostracize

verb

os·​tra·​cize ˈä-strə-ˌsīz 

ostracized; ostracizing

transitive verb

1

: to exile by ostracism

Despite his victories, Themistocles was ostracized by the Athenians.

2

: to exclude from a group by common consent

a lonely dissenter, ostracized as an enemy of the people

—Robert Brustein

Did you know?

Ostracize Has Greek Roots

In ancient Greece, citizens whose power or influence threatened the stability of the state could be exiled by a practice called ostracism. Voters would elect to banish another citizen by writing that citizen's name down on a potsherd. Those receiving enough votes would then be subject to temporary exile from the state. Ostracize originated with the meaning "to exile by the ancient method of ostracism," but these days it usually refers to the general exclusion of a person from a group at the agreement of its members.

Examples of ostracize in a Sentence

She was ostracized from the scientific community for many years because of her radical political beliefs.

The other girls ostracized her because of the way she dressed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, the version that did make it to the screen, where Elio feels ostracized because of his obsession with extraterrestrial life and all its possibilities, remains relevant. —Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025

The historical figure was tried and acquitted for the murders of her father and stepmother in 1892, at which point she was ostracized by her Massachusetts community. —Andy Swift, TVLine, 8 July 2025

Those who speak out publicly risk being ostracized. —Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 7 July 2025

She was ostracized and bullied, nearly getting voted off countless times. —Adam England, People.com, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek ostrakízein "(in 5th-century Athens) to banish an individual chosen after a vote taken by writing names on potsherds," from óstrakon "earthen vessel, potsherd" + -izein -ize — more at ostracon

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ostracize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

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Kids Definition

ostracize

verb

os·​tra·​cize ˈäs-trə-ˌsīz 

ostracized; ostracizing

: to force to leave or refuse to include by ostracism

Etymology

from Greek ostrakizein "to banish by voting with pottery fragments," from ostrakon "shell, pottery fragment"

Word Origin

The ancient Greek word ostrakon had several meanings, including "a shell" and "a fragment of pottery." Such pottery fragments were used in ancient Athens as ballots in a particular kind of popular vote. Once a year the citizens would gather in the marketplace to decide who, if anyone, should be forced to go away temporarily for the good of the city. Each voter wrote a name on an ostrakon. If enough votes were cast against one person, then that person was sent away from the city, or ostracized.