exile

[ eg-zahyl, ek-sahyl ]

/ ˈɛg zaɪl, ˈɛk saɪl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR exile ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

expulsion from one's native land by authoritative decree.

the fact or state of such expulsion: to live in exile.

a person banished from his or her native land.

prolonged separation from one's country or home, as by force of circumstances: wartime exile.

anyone separated from his or her country or home voluntarily or by force of circumstances.

the Exile, the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, 597–538 b.c.

verb (used with object), ex·iled, ex·il·ing.

to expel or banish (a person) from his or her country; expatriate.

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

Nearby words

Origin of exile

1250–1300; Middle English exil banishment < Latin ex(s)ilium, equivalent to exsul banished person + -ium -ium

SYNONYMS FOR exile

7, 8 evict, drive out, cast out, eject, deport.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR exile ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsex·il·a·ble, adjectiveex·il·er, nounqua·si-ex·iled, adjectiveun·ex·iled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for exile

A twinned, imagined narrative of a fictitious Fidel Castro and a Miami exile intent on assassinating him.
Book Bag: Great Books About Cuba|Julia Cooke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both the Republicans in Congress and the American-Cuban community in exile have been speaking out against the warming relations.
Up To Speed: The Cuba Embargo|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was eventually allowed to leave, but he was forced to resign as ambassador and now lives in Washington, effectively in exile.
Pakistan’s Dance With Terrorists Just Backfired and Killed 132 Children|Chris Allbritton|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From here I have the chance to blog in Arabic and in English as “Proud Atheist,” but I am now effectively in exile.
What It’s Like to Be an Atheist in Palestine|Waleed al-Husseini, Movements.Org|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Iran has the highest number of women journalists in prison, and hundreds of Iranian journalists are forced to live in exile.
Iran Journalists to Rouhani: Stop Lying!|IranWire|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Exile was then imposed as a penance on Columba, whose act had been the original cause of offence.
Ireland under the Tudors, Volume I (of II)|Richard Bagwell
On the 20th of March of that year the exile of Elba made an appeal to all faithful soldiers, and it was not made in vain.
The Catholic World; Vol. IV.; October, 1866, to March, 1867.|E. Rameur
The title of My Exile in Siberia is misleading; he was never in that country.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4|Various
Go-Daigo was now recalled from exile and replaced on the imperial throne.
Historic Tales, Vol. 12 (of 15)|Charles Morris
Before her was a second exile, a second effort to make her way among strangers; she believed a second failure.
The Shadow|Mary White Ovington

British Dictionary definitions for exile (1 of 2)

exile

/ (ˈɛɡzaɪl, ˈɛksaɪl) /

noun

a prolonged, usually enforced absence from one's home or country; banishment

the expulsion of a person from his native land by official decree

a person banished or living away from his home or country; expatriate

verb

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

Derived Formsexilic (ɛɡˈzɪlɪk, ɛkˈsɪlɪk) or exilian, adjective

Word Origin for exile

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

British Dictionary definitions for exile (2 of 2)

Exile

/ (ˈɛɡzaɪl, ˈɛksaɪl) /

noun

the Exile 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

Word Origin and History for exile (1 of 2)

exile

c.1300, from Old French essillier "exile, banish, expel, drive off," from Late Latin exilare/exsilare, from Latin exilium/exsilium "banishment, exile," from exul "banished person," from ex- "away" (see ex-) + PIE root *al- "to wander" (cf. Greek alaomai "to wander, stray, or roam about"). Second element derived in ancient times by folk etymology from Latin solum "soil." Related: Exiled; exiling.

Word Origin and History for exile (1 of 2)

exile

c.1300, "forced removal from one's country;" early 14c. as "a banished person;" from Old French exil, essil (12c.), from Latin exilium (see exile (v.)).

exile

noun

verb (used with object), ex·iled, ex·il·ing.

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Origin of exile

Examples from the Web for exile

British Dictionary definitions for exile (1 of 2)

exile

noun

verb

Word Origin for exile

British Dictionary definitions for exile (2 of 2)

Exile

noun

Word Origin and History for exile (1 of 2)

exile

Word Origin and History for exile (1 of 2)

exile