exodus

noun

ex·​o·​dus ˈek-sə-dəs  ˈeg-zə- 

1

capitalized : the mainly narrative second book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see Bible Table

2

: a mass departure : emigration

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Don't Leave Without the History of Exodos

The Biblical book of Exodus describes the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, so it's no surprise that the word exodus, uncapitalized, has come to refer more generally to any mass departure. Exodus was adopted into English (via Latin) from the Greek word Exodos, which literally means “the road out.” Exodos was formed by combining the prefix ex-, meaning “out of,” and hodos, meaning “road” or “way.” Indeed, many roads led out of hodos into English; other hodos descendants include episode, method, odometer, and period. While exodus is occasionally encountered in reference to an individual’s leaving (e.g., “his/her/their exodus”), such usage is likely to raise the eyebrows of editors who feel it should only refer to the departure en masse of a large group of people, as when novelist Nnedi Okorafor writes in her science fiction novel Lagoon (2015): “Everyone was trying to get somewhere, be it a church, a bar, home or out of Lagos. Then there was the exodus of people … to the parts of the city that had the least chance of flooding if the water rose too high.”

Synonyms

• gush
• outflow
• outpour
• outpouring

Examples of exodus in a Sentence

the mass exodus from the cities for the beaches and the mountains on most summer weekends

Recent Examples on the Web

In contrast to the anti-Jewish violence that swept across Egypt, Iraq, Libya, and Syria, there were no pogroms and no mass exodus to the Promised Land. —Ali M. Ansari, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2024

Guests are also more likely to stay the whole time, Ms. Wald said, instead of leaving in a typical exodus after cake-cutting, when older guests and parents who need to relieve babysitters often depart. —Perri Ormont Blumberg, New York Times, 25 May 2024

This indication comes as Israeli forces launched more attacks on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip, causing a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people and restricting the flow of aid. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 22 May 2024

Despite California’s overall diminished population, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last month that the state’s exodus was over, referencing new data showing the state’s population grew in 2023. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Exodos, literally, road out, from ex- + hodos road

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

exodus

noun

ex·​o·​dus ˈek-səd-əs 

1

capitalized : the mainly narrative second book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see bible

2

: a mass departure

Etymology

from Latin Exodus "a book of the Bible," derived from Greek exodos "a road or journey out," from ex- "out" and hodos "road"