How Do You Spell OSTRACISM?

Pronunciation: [ˈɒstɹɐsˌɪzəm] (IPA)

Ostracism is a word that comes from the Ancient Greek word ostrakismós, meaning "exile by banishment". The correct spelling is [ˈɑːstrəsɪzəm] with stress on the second syllable. The initial "o" in the spelling, which is often confused with "a", is actually pronounced as [ɑː]. The "c" is pronounced as [s] and the "-ism" at the end is pronounced as [ɪzəm]. Ostracism refers to the exclusion or banishment of an individual from a social group or society as a form of punishment.

OSTRACISM Meaning and Definition

1. Ostracism refers to the act of excluding or excluding someone from a group, community, or society, typically through social rejection or exclusionary practices. The term originates from the ancient Greek practice of banishing individuals from their city-state through popular vote.

   In essence, ostracism involves the intentional isolation or shunning of a person, often due to differences in beliefs, values, behaviors, or social status. This exclusionary action is usually a collective decision made by a group or community, rather than an individual choice. Ostracism can manifest in various forms, such as social exclusion, ignoring, avoidance, or deliberate isolation.

   Ostracism is an exercise of power and can have significant psychological and emotional implications for the person being ostracized. It can result in feelings of rejection, loneliness, and a diminished sense of belonging. Studies have shown that ostracism can have detrimental effects on an individual's mental health, self-esteem, and overall well-being.

   Historically, ostracism played a role in maintaining social order and reinforcing societal norms. In contemporary society, however, ostracism is generally viewed as a negative and harmful behavior, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, empathy, and respect for individual differences.

   Overall, ostracism can be understood as a social phenomenon that involves the intentional exclusion or rejection of an individual from a group, leading to various psychological and emotional consequences for the person experiencing it.

2. In anc. Greece, banishment by the popular voice by throwing shells into an urn, the name of the person to be banished being written on each shell; banishment; expulsion.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for OSTRACISM *

• ostricism 100%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for OSTRACISM

• ostraise
• ostrasism
• syracism
• ostracus
• ostrazism
• ostracizim
• ostrassism

Etymology of OSTRACISM

The word "ostracism" comes from ancient Greece and has its roots in the Greek term "ostrakon" (ὄστρακον). In ancient Athens, "ostrakon" referred to a shard of pottery or a piece of broken pottery.

During a democratic process called "ostracism", citizens of Athens used to inscribe the names of perceived political threats or unpopular individuals on these pottery shards. These shards were then collected and counted, and if a certain threshold of votes was reached against a person, they would be exiled from the city for a period of ten years.

The English word "ostracism" is derived from the Greek term "ostrakon" as an adaptation of the process and concept of exiling through the use of these pottery shards.

Similar spelling words for OSTRACISM

• ostrea,
• ostracize,
• ostracise,
• ostracod,
• ostraciidae,
• ostracodermi,
• ostrya,
• ostracoderm,
• ostrich,
• Ostrava,
• ostracoda.

Plural form of OSTRACISM is OSTRACISMS