ostracism

noun

os·​tra·​cism ˈä-strə-ˌsi-zəm 

1

: a method of temporary banishment by popular vote without trial or special accusation practiced in ancient Greece

Ostracism of political opponents was a common practice in ancient Athens.

2

: exclusion by general consent from common privileges or social acceptance

For years she suffered ostracism from the scientific community.

Ostracism is a common fate for tell-all writers.

—R. S. Coburn

Examples of ostracism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eggers takes things a step further, positioning his Ellen as a young woman whose depressive and otherworldly nature has led to her ostracism among her 19th century peers. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024

For instance, employees in lower-ranking positions may feel unable to voice concerns due to fears of direct retaliation from their managers or ostracism. —Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Where Lenin's system has won for itself international ostracism and armed intervention, that of Mussolini has been the subject of widespread enthusiasm. —Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011

But schools have degenerated into Chinese re-education camps to indoctrinate youth in fact-free intellectual dogmas currently in vogue through name-calling, ostracism and concocted accusations of bigotry. —Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin ostracismus, borrowed from Greek ostrakismós, from ostrakízein "to ostracize" + -ismos -ism

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ostracism

noun

os·​tra·​cism ˈäs-trə-ˌsiz-əm 

1

: a method of temporary banishment by popular vote without trial practiced in ancient Greece

2

: a general refusal to include someone as part of a social group