<p>Previous studies have shown that ostracism may lead to a diminished sense of meaning in life. However, less is known about whether meaning in life can, in turn, reduce individuals’ perception of ostracism. To explore the bidirectional relationship between meaning in life and social ostracism, we tracked 906 Chinese college students over a nine-month period using a four-wave paper-and-pencil survey. Crosslagged panel analyses revealed that meaning in life was both negatively predicted by and negatively predictive of ostracism. Furthermore, when dividing ostracism into two dimensions—being excluded and being ignored—we found that both dimensions and meaning in life exerted negative reciprocal effects on each other, although these effects were not entirely consistent or stable. This longitudinal study revealed a dynamic and reciprocal association between ostracism and meaning in life, emphasizing the interactive construction between individuals and their social environments. Theoretically, the research contributes to the understanding of how meaning in life and ostracism form a reciprocal feedback loop, shifting away from simple linear causality to a more dynamic and interactive framework. Practically, it highlights that enhancing meaning in life could serve as an effective strategy to reduce the negative effects of social ostracism, ultimately improving individuals’ social well-being and fostering healthier social connections. These findings are crucial for designing more targeted interventions to help individuals cope with ostracism and its psychological impacts.</p>