ostracize
verb /ˈɒstrəsaɪz/
/ˈɑːstrəsaɪz/
(British English also ostracise)
[usually passive] (formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they ostracize | /ˈɒstrəsaɪz/ /ˈɑːstrəsaɪz/ |
| he / she / it ostracizes | /ˈɒstrəsaɪzɪz/ /ˈɑːstrəsaɪzɪz/ |
| past simple ostracized | /ˈɒstrəsaɪzd/ /ˈɑːstrəsaɪzd/ |
| past participle ostracized | /ˈɒstrəsaɪzd/ /ˈɑːstrəsaɪzd/ |
| -ing form ostracizing | /ˈɒstrəsaɪzɪŋ/ /ˈɑːstrəsaɪzɪŋ/ |
- ostracize somebody to refuse to let somebody be a member of a social group; to refuse to meet or talk to somebody synonym shun
- He was ostracized by his colleagues for refusing to support the strike.
- The regime risks being ostracized by the international community.
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Greek ostrakizein, from ostrakon ‘shell ’or‘ potsherd’ (a piece of ceramic material on which names were written in voting to banish unpopular citizens).