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

To refine their results, the researchers then asked around 300 participants to take narcissism assessments and to record their feelings of past and present ostracism, reporting present ostracism over a period of 14 days. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2025

With multiple victories on the board outweighing a marginal defeat, Republicans aren’t cowering under attempts at cultural ostracism either. —Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Feb. 2025

But pointing out the violation of this principle that factory farms represent can lead not just to harassment and intimidation, but also to a subtler repercussion: social ostracism. —Kenny Torrella, Vox, 7 Feb. 2025

Employees often fear retaliation for reporting misconduct, whether through legal actions or workplace ostracism. —Tom Spiggle, Forbes, 23 Dec. 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

Rhymes for ostracism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

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