ostracise
Meaning: To exclude someone from a group or from society by common consent; to deliberately shun or avoid.
Ostracise describes a deliberate, collective act of social exclusion. 'Ostracised by colleagues,' 'socially ostracised,' and 'ostracised from the community' are standard collocations. The word implies that the exclusion is sustained and widely observed, not merely a personal falling-out. It is common in discussions of bullying, workplace culture, and political factions. The spelling 'ostracize' is American; British English uses 'ostracise.'
Examples
- She was ostracised by her colleagues after raising concerns about financial irregularities. 她在提出财务违规问题后遭到了同事们的排斥。Fue marginada por sus compañeros después de plantear irregularidades financieras.彼女は財務上の不正を指摘した後、同僚から仲間外れにされた。그녀는 재정상의 부정을 지적한 후 동료들로부터 따돌림을 당했다.
- Families who broke the unwritten rules of the community were swiftly ostracised. 违反社区不成文规定的家庭很快就被排斥。Las familias que infringían las normas no escritas de la comunidad eran rápidamente marginadas.共同体の暗黙のルールを破った家族は、速やかに排斥された。공동체의 암묵적 규칙을 어긴 가족들은 즉시 배척당했다.
- The whistleblower found himself ostracised from the professional circles he had spent decades cultivating. 这位举报人发现自己被排斥在他花了数十年经营的专业圈子之外。El denunciante se vio excluido de los círculos profesionales que había cultivado durante décadas.その内部告発者は、数十年かけて築いてきた専門家の輪から締め出されることになった。그 내부 고발자는 수십 년에 걸쳐 구축해 온 전문가 네트워크에서 배제당하는 신세가 되었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: media, academic, professional
Tone: negative
Origin & History
From Greek ostrakizein (to banish by voting with potsherds), from ostrakon (tile, potsherd, shell). In ancient Athens, citizens could vote to exile a person for ten years by inscribing names on pottery fragments — a process called ostracism.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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