ostracize

verb os·tra·cize \ ˈä-strə-ˌsīz \

Definition of ostracize

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

See ostracize defined for English-language learners

See ostracize defined for kids

ostracize was our Word of the Day on 07/15/2016. Hear the podcast!

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 of ostracize from the Web

So the world could ostracize those who don’t want to see EQUALITY.

— lorenzo reyes, USA TODAY, "NFL, NBA players respond to Texans owner's 'inmates' remark: 'I think it was ignorant'," 27 Oct. 2017
Gibson was ostracized by Hollywood for the better part of a decade after making scathing anti-semitic statements during a second DUI arrest in summer 2006.

— pamela mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, "Box Office: With 'Daddy's Home 2,' Mel Gibson Is Once Again Family-Friendly," 13 Nov. 2017
But the abstention reflected the Obama White House’s view that decades of American efforts to ostracize Cuba had not worked.

— New York Times, "Trump Administration Defends Cuba Embargo at U.N., Reversing Obama," 1 Nov. 2017
What’s more, weaponizing your identity as a way to defend yourself from past sins endangers an entire community that has fought against being ostracized through harmful stereotypes.

— matt ford, Teen Vogue, "Why Kevin Spacey's Response to Anthony Rapp's Sexual Misconduct Allegations Was Dangerous to the LGBTQ Community," 1 Nov. 2017
However, people are often ostracized at work for foolish reasons–their coworkers are bored and decide to fill their time by picking on someone for no reason at all.

— michael hoon, USA TODAY, "Workplace tips: 7 signs your coworkers don’t like you," 26 Oct. 2017
And while he was largely ostracized by the sports world, Carlos did try for an NFL career and played a stint with the Canadian Football League.

— mará rose williams, kansascity, "50 years before Colin Kaepernick knelt, John Carlos raised his fist," 13 Oct. 2017
For the most part, however, until the last four games of Arkansas football, this mass ostracized and castigated the other. Negativity would not be tolerated.

— eric bolin, ajc, "Bolin: Arkansas fans are like Republicans and Democrats right now," 20 Sep. 2017
Everybody at the party ostracized me except Jasper Conran.

— sarah mower, Vogue, "Katharine Hamnett, London’s Activist Fashion Warrior, Is Back With a Sustainable Buy-Now Collection," 1 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ostracize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

ostracize Has Greek Roots

In ancient Greece, prominent 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 (usually for ten years). The English verb ostracize can mean "to exile by the ancient method of ostracism," but these days it usually refers to the general exclusion of one person from a group at the agreement of its members. Ostracism and ostracize derive from the Greek ostrakizein ("to banish by voting with potsherds"). Its ancestor, the Greek ostrakon ("shell" or "potsherd"), also helped to give English the word oyster.

Origin and Etymology of ostracize

Greek ostrakizein to banish by voting with potsherds, from ostrakon shell, potsherd — more at oyster

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1649

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Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

OSTRACIZE Defined for English Language Learners

ostracize

verb

Definition of ostracize for English Language Learners

: to not allow (someone) to be included in a group : to exclude (someone) from a group

OSTRACIZE Defined for Kids

ostracize

verb os·tra·cize \ ˈä-strə-ˌsīz \

Definition of ostracize for Students

ostracized; ostracizing

: to shut out of a group

After I cheated, I was ostracized by the other players.

Learn More about ostracize

See words that rhyme with ostracize Spanish Central: Translation of ostracize Nglish: Translation of ostracize for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ostracize for Arabic speakers

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ostracize

Definition of ostracize

ostracize was our Word of the Day on 07/15/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of ostracize in a Sentence

Recent Examples of ostracize from the Web

ostracize Has Greek Roots

Origin and Etymology of ostracize

Other Sociology Terms

OSTRACIZE Defined for English Language Learners

ostracize

Definition of ostracize for English Language Learners

OSTRACIZE Defined for Kids

ostracize

Definition of ostracize for Students

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ostracize

Definition of ostracize

ostracize was our Word of the Day on 07/15/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of ostracize in a Sentence

Recent Examples of ostracize from the Web

ostracize Has Greek Roots

Origin and Etymology of ostracize

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OSTRACIZE Defined for English Language Learners

ostracize

Definition of ostracize for English Language Learners

OSTRACIZE Defined for Kids

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Definition of ostracize for Students

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