ostracization
LowFormal, Academic
Definition
Meaning
The act of excluding someone from a society or group.
A social process of deliberate exclusion, rejection, or shunning, typically as a form of punishment, to enforce group norms, or due to prejudice. It often carries psychological and emotional consequences for the individual targeted.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A nominalization of the verb 'ostracize'. It often implies a collective action by a group against an individual and suggests a prolonged or significant state of exclusion. Connotes strong social sanction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'ostracisation' is a recognized secondary variant in British English, but 'ostracization' (with 'z') is also common. In American English, only 'ostracization' (with 'z') is standard.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation between regions. The concept is universally understood as severe social exclusion.
Frequency
The verb 'ostracize' is more frequently used than the noun 'ostracization' in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[undergo/suffer/face/experience] ostracization (from/by [group])lead to/result in ostracization[group] imposes/metes out ostracization (on/upon [person])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sent to Coventry”
- “Given the cold shoulder”
- “Left out in the cold”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the deliberate exclusion of an employee or executive from key meetings, information, or social networks within the company, often as a covert form of pressure to resign.
Academic
Used in sociology, psychology, and political science to describe a formal or informal social mechanism for enforcing norms and punishing deviance.
Everyday
Describes being deliberately ignored or left out by friends, family, or community members, often following a social transgression.
Technical
In ancient Athenian history, it refers to the specific procedure of voting to exile a citizen (ostracism). The modern term is derived from this.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The villagers would ostracise anyone who broke the old covenant.
- He was ostracised by his peers after the scandal broke.
American English
- The board voted to ostracize the whistleblower.
- Teenagers often ostracize peers who are perceived as different.
adverb
British English
- The group looked at him ostracisingly, making no move to offer a chair.
- (Note: Extremely rare usage)
American English
- She was treated ostracizingly by her former colleagues.
- (Note: Extremely rare usage)
adjective
British English
- The ostracised member sat alone at the far end of the hall.
- She felt an ostracising gaze from the entire committee.
American English
- He lived an ostracized existence on the edge of town.
- The ostracizing behavior of the clique was painfully obvious.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- After he told the secret, his friends' ostracization made him very sad.
- The fear of social ostracization can stop people from speaking their minds.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an OSTRICH hiding its head in the sand. Imagine the group is the sand, and they've buried (excluded) someone, making them an outcast.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL EXCLUSION IS BANISHMENT / BEING AN OUTCAST IS BEING AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE (to be quarantined by society).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'остракизм' (ostrakizm), which is a direct loanword but is less common in modern Russian. 'Изгнание' (izgnanie) or 'бойкот' (boykot) might be closer contextual translations.
- The Russian word often implies a more political or historical context, whereas the English term is broadly applied to any social group.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'ostracisation' in American English (always 'z').
- Confusing it with 'ostracism' (the practice or the historical event) - 'ostracization' emphasizes the *act* or *process*.
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'being left out' would be more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'ostracization' in a social context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Ostracism' is the general practice, state, or historical institution of banishment. 'Ostracization' more specifically refers to the *act* or *process* of ostracizing someone. They are often used interchangeably, but 'ostracization' emphasizes the action.
Extremely rarely. It is almost exclusively negative, describing a harmful social punishment. A theoretically positive use might be 'the ostracization of corrupt officials,' but even this frames it as a negative experience for the target.
No, it is a formal word. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to use phrases like 'being left out,' 'given the cold shoulder,' 'shunned,' or 'excluded.'
It is a noun. The related verb is 'to ostracize' (or 'ostracise' in UK English).