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

Afghan refugees like him await their asylum decisions in an increasingly hostile climate marked by ICE raids and deportations. —Vidushi Mishti Sharma, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025

Denunciations, roundups, missing people, deportations. —David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Over the past few months, the president has doubled down on his pledge of mass deportations, with escalating crackdowns in Latino neighborhoods in cities including Chicago. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025

Over the past few months, the president has doubled down on his pledge of mass deportations, with escalating crackdowns in Latino neighborhoods in cities such as Chicago. —Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 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