exile

[ eg-zahyl, ek-sahyl ]

noun

1. expulsion from one's native land by authoritative decree.
2. the fact or state of expulsion from one's native land by authoritative decree:

   She had to live in exile.

3. a person banished from their native land.
4. prolonged separation from one's country or home, such as by force of circumstances:

   Many will suffer wartime exile.

5. anyone separated from their country or home voluntarily or by force of circumstances.
6. the Exile, the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, 597–538 b.c.

verb (used with object)

, ex·iled, ex·il·ing.

1. to expel or banish (a person) from their country; expatriate.

   Synonyms: deport, eject, evict

2. to separate from country, home, etc.:

   Disagreements exiled him from his family.

   Synonyms: deport, eject, evict

exile

¹

/ ˈɛksaɪl; ɛɡˈzɪlɪk; ɛkˈsɪlɪk; ˈɛɡzaɪl /

noun

1. a prolonged, usually enforced absence from one's home or country; banishment
2. the expulsion of a person from his native land by official decree
3. a person banished or living away from his home or country; expatriate

verb

1. to expel from home or country, esp by official decree as a punishment; banish

Exile

²

/ ˈɛɡzaɪl; ˈɛksaɪl /

noun

1. the Exile
   another name for Babylonian captivity

Derived Forms

• exilic, adjective

Other Words From

• exil·a·ble adjective
• exil·er noun
• quasi-exiled adjective
• un·exiled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exile¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English exil “banishment,” from Latin ex(s)ilium, equivalent to exsul “banished person” + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of exile¹

C13: from Latin exsilium banishment, from exsul banished person; perhaps related to Greek alasthai to wander

Example Sentences

This ignores entirely the decision to move the party to the center to accommodate Liz Cheney and her small army of disaffected Republicans who had been exiled from their own party.

From Salon

With Russia currently in sporting exile because of its invasion of Ukraine, some are asking whether he could put pressure on bodies such as the IOC to end their ban and readmit Russian competitors.

From BBC

After finishing 16th and 12th, Coventry came within one game of ending their then 22-year exile from the Premier League when they lost to Luton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

From BBC

In 2020 the author moved to Paris, “exiled by the force of things”, and took French nationality.

From BBC

In every capacity, it will need to be bigger and braver to exile the play-off pain synonymous with the Scots.

From BBC

Related Words

• expatriate
• fugitive
• refugee