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)

exiled, exiling 

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. another name for Babylonian captivity

Other Word Forms

• exilic adjective
• exilable adjective
• exiler noun
• quasi-exiled adjective
• unexiled 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

In a news conference on Friday, Belarus's exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya thanked the US president for securing the prisoners' release.

From BBC

Thirteen others were released and forced into exile.

From BBC

Once a cultural lodestar, Ye now occupies a far more polarizing place: embraced by a loyal fringe, shunned by former collaborators and largely exiled from mainstream music and fashion.

From Los Angeles Times

The former PM was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and spent years living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai.

From BBC

Now, aged 30, Sterling faces a season in exile at Chelsea, the £30m remaining in wages on his contract a key factor in the stalemate.

From BBC

Related Words

• banish 
• displace 
• drive out www.thesaurus.com
• evacuate 
• expel 
• extradite 
• ostracize 
• oust 
• outlaw 
• relegate