deportation

noun

de·​por·​ta·​tion ˌdē-ˌpȯr-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce deportation (audio)
-pər-
1
: an act or instance of deporting
2
: the removal from a country of an alien whose presence is unlawful or prejudicial

Examples of deportation in a Sentence

the deportation of the Jews from Spain in 1492
Recent Examples on the Web In the months prior to this deportation, a defiant Grogg has publicly criticized the island's prime minister and government in local radio interviews and on social media. Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Mar. 2024 Critics and Muslim groups say the new citizenship law will help protect non-Muslims who are excluded from the register, while Muslims could face the threat of deportation or internment. Sheikh Saaliq, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Mar. 2024 In those areas, for instance, access to social services and health care is conditional on holding a Russian passport, and those without one after July 1 will be considered foreign citizens or stateless people and could be subject to deportation, the report said. Constant Méheut, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 In September, President Biden redesignated Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans who arrived before July 31, 2023 - shielding around 470,000 of them from deportation. Louis Casiano, Fox News, 23 Feb. 2024 In California and other states, Chinese busted in marijuana grow operations generally receive probation and face potential deportation. Stuart Leavenworth, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 Both McGowan and Eller have called for a mass deportation of people living in the U.S. illegally. Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2024 Their agents had to operate the deportation flights, and some of the migrants were physically resisting being taken to Haiti. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024 Lawmakers also empowered state judges to order deportations to Mexico and allow local law enforcement to carry them out. Patrick Svitek, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deportation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deportation was in 1595

Dictionary Entries Near deportation

Cite this Entry

“Deportation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deportation. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

deportation

noun
de·​por·​ta·​tion ˌdē-ˌpōr-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce deportation (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on deportation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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