ostracism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   deliberate exclusion from a group or from social acceptance

   After challenging the club's leaders, she faced gossip and social ostracism.

2. 2
   noun

   in ancient Greece, the temporary banishment of a citizen by popular vote

   Athenian ostracism could send a powerful citizen into exile without confiscating his property.

From Ancient Greek ostrakismós, 'banishment by ballot,' from ostrakízein, 'to ostracize,' and óstrakon, 'potsherd.' Athenians wrote a proposed exile's name on fragments of pottery, giving the modern word its name.

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