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

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

Though Raq has always acted in the best interests of the family business, her actions have ostracized her from everyone around her. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 16 May 2025

Israel is ostracized and isolated, reeling from a war that fifty-three per cent of the public says is motivated by Netanyahu’s personal imperatives. —Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 14 May 2025

What surprised me most was learning of their unique individual paths to success when the second wave feminist movement often isolated and ostracized lesbians. —Morgan Lieberman, NPR, 26 June 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

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

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.