Omittee

An 'omittee' is an individual, group, or entity that is intentionally left out or excluded from something, such as a list, a process, a benefit, or a communication. The term highlights the act of deliberate omission, often implying a reason or justification, whether explicit or implicit, for the exclusion. The act of being omitted can range from inconsequential to profoundly impactful, depending on the context. Understanding who is considered an omittee can provide valuable insights into the motivations, power dynamics, and priorities of those doing the omitting. It's a term that draws attention to absence, recognizing that the exclusion itself often carries meaning. Furthermore, being an omitttee can give way to feelings such as annoyance, frustration or anger if they are not given a sufficient explanation.

Omittee meaning with examples

• The initial draft of the report listed all stakeholders, but the final version, after corporate lobbying, had several smaller community organizations as omitttees. These organizations were critical of the project, meaning that the omission served to sanitize public perception. It made it look like the project enjoyed broader support.
• After the company restructure, many senior managers were left off of the leadership team, becoming omitttees in the new hierarchy. They were informed of their demotions, and their subsequent departures, through a chain of impersonal HR emails and the new team did not make any attempts to help these individuals. Many of them were angry.
• In the contract negotiations, certain clauses were selectively presented to the omitttees. These clauses did not mention things the company did not want them to know about. Thus the omitttees signed the contract without the full understanding of its implications, to the company's benefit.
• During the awards ceremony, the nominees were announced one by one; however, a deserving candidate, known for his advocacy for human rights, was an omitttee. This omission created widespread controversy and was widely critiqued as a case of political censorship.