ostracize
- to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges, etc.: His friends ostracized him after his father's arrest.
- to banish (a person) from his or her native country; expatriate.
- (in ancient Greece) to banish (a citizen) temporarily by popular vote.
Origin of ostracize
Synonyms for ostracize
Antonyms for ostracize
Examples from the Web for ostracise
Historical Examples of ostracise
(following him slightly C.) Why yield to her when we might ostracise her?
Niobe, All SmilesHarry Paulton and Edward A. (Edward Antonio) Paulton
It was manifestly the intention of her family to ostracise her altogether.
The Way We Live NowAnthony Trollope
Hence he did not ostracise me; but smiling, said, "Train very late to-day, sir."
In their turn they ostracise him after their fashion; so he becomes a silent, solitary youth, self-reliant, and old for his years.
The Gamekeeper at HomeRichard Jefferies
She knew that the world could not afford to ostracise the men,—though happily it might condemn the women.
An Eye for an EyeAnthony Trollope
ostracize
ostracise
- to exclude or banish (a person) from a particular group, society, etc
- (in ancient Greece) to punish by temporary exile
Word Origin for ostracize
Word Origin and History for ostracise
ostracize
1640s, from Greek ostrakizein "to banish," literally "to banish by voting with potshards" (see ostracism). Figurative sense of "to exclude from society" is attested from 1640s. Related: Ostracization; ostracized; ostracizing.