noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of expulsion
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin expulsiōn- (stem of expulsiō ), equivalent to expuls ( us ) driven out (past participle of expellere to expel ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Don't ever make a joke about a bomb on an airplane, if you don't want to risk expulsion. Expulsion is being kicked out of something, like a club, a school, or an airplane. If a Girl Scout ate all the cookies she'd already sold, she might face expulsion from her Girl Scout troop, and an unruly high school student who threatens to hit a teacher risks expulsion from school. Historically, many religious and minority groups faced expulsion from countries where their beliefs weren't tolerated. In fact, the Latin root word of expulsion is expellere, "to drive out."
Vocabulary lists containing expulsion
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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.
See Examples For:
"Ample evidence demonstrates that baby rattlers, like adults, can control their venom expulsion, the adults possess and deliver far more venom when biting, and the adults cause substantially more severe symptoms in snakebite victims."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
"Whatever it is... Burkina Faso is a place of dignity... not a place of expulsion," Traore added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
And there is the urban heating effect, caused by the expulsion of hot air onto the street.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
What followed was a contentious election campaign, McArthur’s expulsion, her husband’s and mother’s suspension and now a lawsuit against the club that some members say has already cost upwards of $400,000 to defend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
I nodded glumly, then described the events at lunch today: the way Oliver had waved me over; Rachel embarrassing me in front of everyone; the expulsion from my new lunch table.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
She launched a legal fight that has led to expulsions, suspensions and now a lawsuit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
Acknowledging the Pentagon expulsions, Iran’s embassy in South Africa posted photos on social media Friday x-ing out portraits of several top U.S. military officials fired in recent months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2026
Mexican officials believe the expulsions have helped Sheinbaum avoid U.S. intervention.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 3, 2025
Following Sansal's jailing, French officials arrested Algerian influencers in France on "terror" propaganda charges, and there were tit-for-tat expulsions of officials working in both countries.
From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2025
Then he laughed without sound, without moving his lips; it was three short expulsions of breath forced upward through his nostrils by the heaving of his chest.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
