What does ostracising mean?
Ostracising refers to the act of excluding or banning someone from a group or community, often as a form of punishment or social censure. This can be a formal or informal process, depending on the context. In some cases, it may be a deliberate act of exclusion, while in others it may be a natural consequence of a person's actions. Ostracising can have significant social and emotional consequences for the person being excluded, and can also impact the dynamics of the group or community. Understanding ostracising is essential for navigating complex social situations and promoting inclusivity.
verbTo exclude or ban someone from a group or community, often as a form of punishment or social censure.
- To exclude or ban someone from a group or community, often as a form of punishment or social censure.
"The student council ostracised the classmate who had been caught cheating on the exam."
"The student council ostracised the classmate who had been caught cheating on the exam."
"The community ostracised the family who had been involved in a scandal."
The plural form ostracisings is used to refer to multiple instances of ostracising, such as 'the community has been ostracising several members for their behavior.'
"The community has been ostracising several members for their behavior."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ostracising
The word ostracising comes from the Greek word ostrakon, meaning 'shell' or 'voting token'. In ancient Greece, ostracism was a formal process of exclusion, where citizens would write the name of a person they wanted to banish on a shell and cast it into a public urn. The practice was later adopted in other cultures, and the verb ostracising emerged as a way to describe the act of excluding someone from a group or community.
How ostracising is actually used
Ostracising can be a formal or informal process, depending on the context. In some cases, it may be a deliberate act of exclusion, while in others it may be a natural consequence of a person's actions.