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

Garcia Lanza was ordered released, but continued to face deportation proceedings in New York. —E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 20 June 2026

Supporters say the rules are necessary because European Union countries have struggled to enforce deportation orders. —Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026

Police officers at the site checked whether those scheduled for deportation had any pending criminal cases. —Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026

In a statement, the agency said ICE is committed to ensuring that the local police who partner with them have the tools needed to support ICE's mass deportation mission. —Meg Anderson, NPR, 19 June 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