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)

Synonyms of deportation

• expulsion

Examples of deportation in a Sentence

the deportation of the Jews from Spain in 1492

Recent Examples on the Web

The vast majority of the deportations had not been publicized. —Mathew Miranda updated March 4, Sacbee.com, 5 Mar. 2026

On a sunny day last September, Villa witnessed firsthand a swarm of federal immigration agents making their way through Chicago’s western suburbs as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a 64-day mass deportation mission. —Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

Views of the overall deportation program continue to be slightly negative across all Americans, but sharply partisan, with Republicans heavily in favor. —Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

Noem argued the purchases were authorized by Congress for executive travel and deportation operations. —Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

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