ostracism

noun

os·​tra·​cism ˈä-strə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce ostracism (audio)
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 Then again, for most of us fighting in a restaurant, blowing up a business deal over a broken toilet seat, talking during a prayer service or going to all-out war with a coffee shop owner or another patient in the doctor’s waiting room would mean shame, social ostracism, possibly jail. Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2024 These internal surveys describe the same problems—ostracism, undermining employees, and threats to employment—mentioned by our sources. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 7 Nov. 2023 Rights groups say the LGBTQ community in Ethiopia remains underground because LGBTQ people face high levels of discrimination and fear violence and ostracism if their identities are discovered. Reuters, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2023 This ostracism, this otherness, is among the most distressing feelings that can be felt by our social species. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 30 June 2023 There's enough ostracism already when children decide to go graduate school, instead of medical or law school. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2012 Permanent professional ostracism and punchline status — though when Pilatus died of an accidental drug overdose in 1998, the reality became even more punitive. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2023 Visible ringworm infections invited reactions ranging from distaste to an open fear of contagion to, at times, outright ostracism. Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2015 No matter how Sacco felt, her ostracism was an established fact, a thing that happened to her. Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ostracism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ostracism was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near ostracism

Cite this Entry

“Ostracism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostracism. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ostracism

noun
os·​tra·​cism ˈäs-trə-ˌsiz-əm How to pronounce ostracism (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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