verb

ostracize

ostracise, exclude, shun

He was ostracized by his colleagues for his views.

He was ostracised by his colleagues for his views.

The whole village ostracized the family.

The whole village ostracised the family.

((sb.)) ((from sth.)) to exclude (sb.) from a group or society. He was ostracised by his colleagues.

Synonyms: exclude, shun, banish; Antonyms: welcome, accept, include

From Greek 'ostrakon' (potsherd, tile), which was used for voting to banish someone from ancient Athens.

Imagine ancient Greeks writing a name on a piece of pottery ('ostrakon') to vote someone out of the city.

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