expel

[ ik-spel ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·pelled, ex·pel·ling.

1. to drive or force out or away; discharge or eject:

   to expel air from the lungs; to expel an invader from a country.

2. to cut off from membership or relations:

   to expel a student from a college.

   Synonyms: excommunicate, exile, dismiss, oust

expel

/ ˌɛkspɛˈliː; ɪkˈspɛl /

verb

1. to eject or drive out with force
2. to deprive of participation in or membership of a school, club, etc

Derived Forms

• expellee, noun
• exˈpeller, noun
• exˈpellable, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·pel·la·ble adjective
• re·ex·pel verb (used with object) reexpelled reexpelling
• un·ex·pel·la·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expel¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English expellen, from Latin expellere “to drive out, drive away,” equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + pellere “to push, drive”

Word History and Origins

Origin of expel¹

C14: from Latin expellere to drive out, from pellere to thrust, drive

Example Sentences

If Trump follows through on his promises to impose massive tariffs and expel millions of undocumented migrants, inflation will soar.

From Salon

Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives in 2023 after being indicted on federal wire fraud and money laundering charges.

From Salon

In 2023, 100 members of the European parliament wrote to Uefa asking that Belarus be expelled from their tournaments due to its human rights record.

From BBC

Before Gaetz's resignation was announced, he said, the House was prepared to expel him just as they did former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., last year.

From Salon

Last month, she argued there should be a “complete reassessment of US funding of the United Nations” after the Palestinian Authority tried to expel Israel from the UN over human rights abuses in Gaza.

From BBC

Related Words

• ban
• banish
• bar
• dismiss
• displace
• eject
• evict
• exile
• oust