ostracism
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
The act of deliberately excluding someone from a group or society.
A state or period of being excluded, ignored, or marginalized; the formal practice of temporary banishment from a city by popular vote, as in ancient Athens.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term implies a collective, often formal or systematic, exclusion rather than a personal snub. It connotes social or political rejection. The historical sense refers specifically to the Athenian practice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same formal, somewhat academic or historical connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, primarily used in formal, academic, or journalistic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N + of + N (ostracism of dissidents)V + N (face/suffer/experience ostracism)N + V (ostracism follows/occurs)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly; concept relates to 'send to Coventry' or 'give the cold shoulder']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might describe the exclusion of a non-conforming executive from key decision-making circles.
Academic
Common in sociology, political science, and history to describe social exclusion mechanisms or the Athenian practice.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used to describe severe, group-based social rejection.
Technical
Used in social psychology to describe a specific form of social rejection.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was ostracised by his colleagues after the scandal.
- The group tends to ostracise anyone who questions its leader.
American English
- He was ostracized by his colleagues after the scandal.
- The group tends to ostracize anyone who questions its leader.
adverb
British English
- [No established adverbial form in common use.]
American English
- [No established adverbial form in common use.]
adjective
British English
- The ostracised member left the community.
- She felt ostracised and alone.
American English
- The ostracized member left the community.
- She felt ostracized and alone.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the game, the other children used ostracism; they would not play with him.
- After breaking the club's rules, he faced ostracism from the other members.
- The political dissident endured years of social ostracism but refused to be silenced.
- The ancient Athenian practice of ostracism allowed citizens to vote to exile a potentially dangerous individual for ten years.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an OSTRICH hiding its head in the sand—people practising ostracism pretend you don't exist.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A CONTAINER (being pushed out of it); EXCLUSION IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (being cast out).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct equivalent of 'бойкот' (boycott), which is more active refusal to engage. Closer to 'остракизм' (a direct loanword) or 'изгнание/отторжение обществом'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'ostrich' (the bird).
- Using it for mild or individual snubbing rather than systematic group exclusion.
- Incorrectly using the verb form 'to ostracise' as a noun ('he felt an ostracise').
Practice
Quiz
Which historical practice is directly linked to the origin of the word 'ostracism'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The verb is 'to ostracise' (UK spelling) or 'to ostracize' (US spelling). It means to exclude someone from a society or group.
No. While it can be long-lasting, it is often a temporary state of exclusion. The original Athenian ostracism lasted for ten years.
Ostracism is a specific form of relational aggression focused on exclusion and ignoring. Bullying is a broader category that can include physical, verbal, or psychological aggression, of which ostracism is one type.
Extremely rarely. It is almost exclusively negative, describing a harmful social practice. A theoretical positive use might describe the beneficial exclusion of a malign influence.