exile

play

noun ex·ile \ˈeg-ˌzī(-ə)l, ˈek-ˌsī(-ə)l\

Definition of exile

1a : the state or a period of forced absence from one's country or homeb : the state or a period of voluntary absence from one's country or home
2 : a person who is in exile

exilic

play \eg-ˈzi-lik\ adjective

See exile defined for English-language learners

See exile defined for kids

Examples of exile in a Sentence

They hoped that his exile would be temporary.
Many chose to live as exiles rather than face persecution.

Origin and Etymology of exile

Middle English exil, from Anglo-French essil, exil, from Latin exilium, from exul, exsul an exile

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

exile

verb ex·ile

Definition of exile

exiled

;

exiling

transitive verb
: to banish or expel from one's own country or home

See exile defined for English-language learners

Examples of exile in a Sentence

with their conquest of the Moors complete, Ferdinand and Isabella next exiled the Jews from Spain

14th Century

First Known Use of exile

14th century

Synonym Discussion of exile

banish, exile, deport, transport mean to remove by authority from a state or country. banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own. banished for seditious activities exile may imply compulsory removal or an enforced or voluntary absence from one's own country. a writer who exiled himself for political reasons deport implies sending out of the country an alien who has illegally entered or whose presence is judged inimical to the public welfare. illegal aliens will be deported transport implies sending a convicted criminal to an overseas penal colony. a convict who was transported to Australia

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

EXILE Defined for English Language Learners

exile

play

noun

Definition of exile for English Language Learners

: a situation in which you are forced to leave your country or home and go to live in a foreign country
: a period of time during which someone has lived in exile
: a person who has been forced to live in a foreign country : a person who is in exile

exile

verb

Definition of exile for English Language Learners

: to force (someone) to go to live in a distant place or foreign country : to force (someone) into exile

EXILE Defined for Kids

exile

play

noun ex·ile \ˈeg-ˌzīl, ˈek-ˌsīl\

Definition of exile for Students

1 : the situation of a person who is forced to leave his or her own country He's living in exile.
2 : the period of time someone is forced to live away from his or her country a 20 year exile
3 : a person who is forced to leave his or her own country