exile

[ eg-zahyl, ek-sahyl ]
See synonyms for: exileexiled on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. a person banished from their native land.

  2. prolonged separation from one's country or home, such as by force of circumstances: Many will suffer wartime exile.

  3. anyone separated from their country or home voluntarily or by force of circumstances.

  4. 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.

  2. to separate from country, home, etc.: Disagreements exiled him from his family.

Origin of exile

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English exil “banishment,” from Latin ex(s)ilium, equivalent to exsul “banished person” + -ium -ium

Other words for exile

Other words from exile

  • ex·il·a·ble, adjective
  • ex·il·er, noun
  • quasi-exiled, adjective
  • un·ex·iled, adjective

Words Nearby exile

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use exile in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for exile (1 of 2)

exile

/ (ˈɛɡzaɪl, ˈɛksaɪl) /


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

  1. 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

Origin of exile

1
C13: from Latin exsilium banishment, from exsul banished person; perhaps related to Greek alasthai to wander

Derived forms of exile

  • exilic (ɛɡˈzɪlɪk, ɛkˈsɪlɪk) or exilian, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for Exile (2 of 2)

Exile

/ (ˈɛɡzaɪl, ˈɛksaɪl) /


noun
  1. the Exile another name for Babylonian captivity

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