ostracize

UK: /ˈɒstrəsaɪz/ US: /ˈɑstrəˌsaɪz/ ,(os′trə sīz′)

Inflections of 'ostracize' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

ostracizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

ostracizing

v pres p (US & UK)

ostracized

v past (US & UK)

ostracized

v past p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

os•tra•cize /ˈɑstrəˌsaɪz/   v. [~ + object] , -cized, -ciz•ing. 

1. to exclude (someone) from society, privileges, membership, etc.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

os•tra•cize  (os′trə sīz′), v.t., -cized, -ciz•ing. 

1. to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges, etc.:
   His friends ostracized him after his father's arrest.
2. to banish (a person) from his or her native country;
   expatriate.
3. Ancient History (in ancient Greece) to banish (a citizen) temporarily by popular vote.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] os′tra•cise′. 

• Greek ostrakízein, equivalent. to óstrak(on) potsherd, tile, ballot (akin to óstreion oyster, shell) + -izein -ize
• 1640–50

os′tra•ciz′a•ble, adj. 
os′tra•ci•za′tion, n. 
os′tra•ciz′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. shun, snub, blacklist.

Antonyms

• 1. accept.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ostracize, ostracise / ˈɒstrəˌsaɪz/ verb (transitive)

1. to exclude or banish (a person) from a particular group, society, etc
2. (in ancient Greece) to punish by temporary exile

Etymology: 17th Century: from Greek ostrakizein to select someone for banishment by voting on potsherds; see ostracon

ˈostracism noun

ˈostraˌcizable, ˈostraˌcisable adjective

ˈostraˌcizer, ˈostraˌciser noun