Definition

The act of excluding someone from a group or society, often as a form of punishment or social rejection.

Example

The student faced ostracism from his peers after the incident.

Conversation

Have you heard about the ostracism that happened in our school recently?

Yeah, I read about it online; it was really surprising.

I can't believe they would exclude someone like that; it seems so harsh.

I agree, it’s sad how quickly people can turn to ostracism instead of just talking things out.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ostracism → It is formed from "ostrakon" (Greek, meaning shell or potsherd) and the suffix "-ism" (meaning a practice or system). The term originally referred to the practice in ancient Athens where citizens would vote by writing on pieces of pottery to exile someone from the city for a period of time, thus creating a system of exclusion.

Memory Tip

Imagine ancient Athenians using shells ('ostrakon') to decide who to exclude from their community. This helps you remember that ostracism is about the practice of excluding someone.

Visually Confused Words