# shunning

/ˈʃənɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃˈʌnɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shunning
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

deliberate staying away from someone, usually to punish them or show you disapprove. You see it when a group stops talking to a person completely.

For teachers: deliberate avoidance or exclusion of a person or group, often as a form of social punishment. Often implies collective or public rejection rather than private dislike.

## Examples

- They are shunning him after the big argument.
- After the disagreement, her old friends are shunning her and she eats lunch alone.
- The community's quiet shunning of the whistleblower revealed more about its fear of conflict than about his actions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.