deportation
noun
de·por·ta·tion
ˌdē-ˌpȯr-ˈtā-shən 
-pər-
plural deportations
: an act or instance of deporting
especially
: the removal from a country by an executive government agency of a foreign-born noncitizen (such as one whose presence violates immigration laws or is ruled detrimental to the public welfare)
Examples of deportation in a Sentence
the deportation of the Jews from Spain in 1492
Recent Examples on the Web
Under the Obama administration, his immigration case was deemed low priority and administratively closed, meaning deportation was not pursued as officials focused enforcement efforts on immigrants convicted of serious crimes.
—
Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order and ordered that the planes be turned around, but Justice Department attorneys said his oral instructions directing the flight to be returned were defective, and the deportations proceeded as planned.
—Armando Garcia, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
Abrego Garcia, a father of three, has turned into a political football after his mistaken deportation to a prison for terrorists in March.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
The Venezuelan government said the US administration has unilaterally suspended deportation flights from the United States, including at least one that was due to land Friday, but a US administration official denied that was the case.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deportation
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Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order and ordered that the planes be turned around, but Justice Department attorneys said his oral instructions directing the flight to be returned were defective, and the deportations proceeded as planned.
—Armando Garcia, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
Abrego Garcia, a father of three, has turned into a political football after his mistaken deportation to a prison for terrorists in March.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
The Venezuelan government said the US administration has unilaterally suspended deportation flights from the United States, including at least one that was due to land Friday, but a US administration official denied that was the case.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deportation
Cite this Entry
“Deportation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deportation. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
deportation
noun
de·por·ta·tion
ˌdē-ˌpōr-ˈtā-shən
: an act or instance of deporting
specifically
: the removal from a country of an alien whose presence is illegal or detrimental to the public welfare compare exclusion
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