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

On the supply side, Baby Boomers are aging and retiring, population growth has slowed, and there’s been a sharp reduction in immigration and an increase in deportations. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026

Miller said he main reason for the Avelo billboard was to provide awareness to deportation flights. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026

Trump’s massive deportation crusade and the fact that children of Latinos tend to speak less Spanish than their parents. —Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026

Respondents were also asked about their opinions on deportations. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 11 Feb. 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