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Synonyms

exile

American  
[eg-zahyl, ek-sahyl] / ˈɛg zaɪl, ˈɛk saɪl /

noun

exiles plural
  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)

exiles, present (3rd person singular) exiled, past participle, past exiling present participle
  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 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Exile 2 British  
/ ˈɛɡzaɪl, ˈɛksaɪl /

noun

  1. another name for Babylonian captivity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of exile

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

Explanation

If you are exiled from a place, you must leave and not return. Such punishment is called exile. For example, after he was removed from power, Napoleon lived in exile on the island of Elba. The verb exile comes from the Old French word essillier, meaning “banish, expel, or drive off.” However, some people who live in exile do so happily — and voluntarily — like American citizens in exile in Paris. Don't confuse being exiled with being banned: exile is for countries. If you cause trouble at a restaurant, you might be banned from returning, not exiled.

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Vocabulary lists containing exile

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At Tlahuac, Joines Exil, 23, received a 45-day permit to stay in Mexico before traveling to the Mexican border city of Reynosa.

From Reuters • Apr. 17, 2023

"It seems like every day that passes, things change a lot," Exil said about border policies.

From Reuters • Apr. 17, 2023

Exil sur la rue principale … The Rolling Stones recording in Paris.

From The Guardian • Aug. 28, 2012

Eugene Ysaye's poem "Exil," for string orchestra without basses, produced at the Cincinnati May Festival, conducted by the composer.

From Annals of Music in America A Chronological Record of Significant Musical Events by Lahee, Henry Charles

His later works, Le Nabab, Les Rois en Exil, Numa Roumestan, L'Évangéliste, L'Immortel, shew, in their condescending to the satisfaction of vulgar curiosity as to living or lately dead persons, a great falling off.

From A Short History of French Literature by Saintsbury, George

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