Standard Lemma guide

ostrichism

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɒstɹɪtʃɪz(ə)m/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /-dʒɪ-/
  • Received-Pronunciation: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈɑstɹit͡ʃˌɪzəm/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of hiding, often unsuccessfully, by ducking one's head out of view.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A policy of burying one's head in the sand, that is, ignoring the reality of a situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From ostrich + -ism. The ostrich is often erroneously believed to bury its head in the sand to hide from predators.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Vogel-Strauß-Politik — policy of ignoring the reality of a situation
  • Polish: strusia polityka — policy of ignoring the reality of a situation