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ostracize

[ os-truh-sahyz ]
/ ˈɒs trəˌsaɪz /
||
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verb (used with object), os·tra·cized, os·tra·ciz·ing.

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.

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RELATED WORDS

ostracism, ignoring

Nearby words

  1. ostosis,
  2. ostpolitik,
  3. ostpreussen,
  4. ostracise,
  5. ostracism,
  6. ostracod,
  7. ostracoderm,
  8. ostracon,
  9. ostrakon,
  10. ostranenie
Also especially British, os·tra·cise.

Origin of ostracize

1640–50; < Greek ostrakízein, equivalent to óstrak(on) potsherd, tile, ballot (akin to óstreion oyster, shell) + -izein -ize
Related formsos·tra·ciz·a·ble, adjectiveos·tra·ci·za·tion, nounos·tra·ciz·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ostracization

British Dictionary definitions for ostracization

ostracize

ostracise

/ (ˈɒstrəˌsaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to exclude or banish (a person) from a particular group, society, etc
(in ancient Greece) to punish by temporary exile
Derived Formsostracism, nounostracizable or ostracisable, adjectiveostracizer or ostraciser, noun

Word Origin for ostracize

C17: from Greek ostrakizein to select someone for banishment by voting on potsherds; see ostracon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012