Ostracize
Origin
From Ancient Greek ὀστÏακίζω (ostrakizÅ, "I ostracize, banish by voting with pot shards"), from ὄστÏακον (ostrakon, "clay pot").
Alternative forms
- (UK) ostracise
Full definition of ostracize
Verb
- To exclude (a person) from society or from a community, by not communicating with (them) or by refusing to acknowledge (their) presence; to refuse to talk to or associate with; to shun.
- 2003, Cele C. Otnes, Elizabeth Hafkin Pleck, Cinderella Dreams: The Allure of the Lavish Wedding,Lesbian studies scholar Ramona Oswald has extended this criticism by arguing that traditions such as the bouquet toss and the "singles" table at the wedding reception often marginalize and ostracize lesbians and gays in attendance.
- 2005, July 1, Nancy Levant, Suburbanite Socialism, Suburbanites infamously ostracize those outside of their social and neighborhood circles. They ostracize the divorced and the poor, and they are often mean-spirited gossips. They are infamous for slutting up teenage daughters with immodest clothing and the acceptance of trashy role models, and they are infamous for cheerleader training, which includes the lessons of social ostracism. Many suburbanites belong to community-based country clubs, which, via consensus, define further ostracism rules.
- 2007, Petra Hauf and Friedrich Försterling (editors), Making Minds: The shaping of human minds through social context,Children ostracize other children in the playground, choosing carefully who they wish to play with. Adults ostracize other adults, such as marriage partners using the silent treatment.