( BrE also os·tra·cise ) / ˈɒstrəsaɪz; NAmE ˈɑːs-/ verb
[ vn ] ( formal ) to refuse to let sb be a member of a social group; to refuse to meet or talk to sb
SYN shun :
He was ostracized by his colleagues for refusing to support the strike.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Greek ostrakizein , from ostrakon shell or potsherd (a piece of ceramic material on which names were written in voting to banish unpopular citizens).