deportation

noun

de·​por·​ta·​tion ˌdē-ˌpȯr-ˈtā-shən 

-pər-

1

: an act or instance of deporting

2

: the removal from a country of an alien whose presence is unlawful or prejudicial

Synonyms

• expulsion

Examples of deportation in a Sentence

the deportation of the Jews from Spain in 1492

Recent Examples on the Web

Among other policy changes, the bill brought back 2017 tax cuts, increased funding for deportation efforts and reduced who is eligible for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). —Avalon Hester, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

Some students have challenged deportation proceedings. —Filip Timotija, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025

In August alone, there were 1,393 ICE flights, the data showed, with around 240 of those counted as removal, or deportation, flights out of the country. —Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

At a hearing Wednesday, attorneys for the minors asked a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction blocking such deportations. —Laura Romero, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for deportation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Legal 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