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."
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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:
The Nobel peace laureate said the case risked reigniting the crisis that led to the Rohingyas' expulsion and said there was no "genocidal intent" behind the crackdown.
From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026
Since then, the university has investigated the “Cornell Seven”—the seven frat brothers directly involved—and imposed discipline ranging from expulsion to compulsory essay writing.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
Potential punishments range from fines and points deductions to expulsion from the league.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Possible penalties include massive points deductions and expulsion from the Premier League.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
The news of Noah’s expulsion was the latest in a string of juicy gossip items that had gripped the Granger campus, but no one was particularly upset.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
The latest expulsions bring the total number of members removed under Xi's third term to a record 51, up from 35 and five in his first and second terms respectively.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
A new centre would help EU countries plan and coordinate expulsions.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
The expulsions from Pakistan and alleged abuse intensified after a major escalation in fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan last October.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
She launched a legal fight that has led to expulsions, suspensions and now a lawsuit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
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
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
