exile

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

Definition of exile

1 a :the state or a period of forced absence from one's country or home

b :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.

Recent Examples of exile from the Web

This debut novel by an acclaimed chef was inspired by her return to Tehran after decades of exile.

— susan swagler, AL.com, "Celebrated teacher writes book sharing stories from working as a bus driver," 29 Aug. 2017
The number and names of former players who have been disassociated, and the specific lengths of their exile, has not yet been made public.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Former Louisville basketball players who didn't talk to NCAA can't complain | Tim Sullivan," 28 Aug. 2017
Some members of the Cuban exile community worried about the loss of a university space that frequently hosted dissidents from the island, as well as other opponents of the Castro regime.

— nora gámez torres, miamiherald, "University of Miami president promises exiles no agreements will be established with Cuban universities," 18 Aug. 2017
His first wife delivered a son in 1971 but fell out of favor and died in exile in Moscow.

— choe sang-hun, New York Times, "Meet Kim Jong-un, a Moody Young Man With a Nuclear Arsenal," 10 Aug. 2017
The Spain striker's lawyer, Ricardo Cardoso, has threatened legal action over the Blues' handling of his client's high-profile exile from the squad and seemingly imminent departure, as Costa looks to secure a return to former club Atletico Madrid.

— SI.com, "Chelsea & Conte Deny 'Nonsense' Claims by Costa Lawyer as Striker Threatens Legal Action," 5 Aug. 2017
It is thought the books of First and Second Chronicles were written to the Jewish exiles who had returned to their homeland after 70 years in Babylon.

— loren a. yadon, idahostatesman, "Prayer is powerful but should be used properly," 4 Aug. 2017
India’s continued hosting of the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in 1959, riles Beijing.

— The Economist, "One Lifebelt, One RoadChina makes Pakistan an offer it cannot refuse," 22 July 2017
A fan painting from the mid-1500s depicts a Chinese scholar-official known as Pan Lang who was ordered back to work in the country's capital after a long sojourn in exile on a remote mountain.

— steven litt, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Museum of Art Japanese exhibit shows quieter side of former Cavs owner George Gund III (photos)," 15 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of exile

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

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exile Synonyms

Synonyms

banishment, deportation, displacement, expatriation, expulsion, relegation

Related Words

ostracism; extradition; diaspora, dispersion, scattering; emigration, migration; evacuation; ethnic cleansing, transportation; dispossession, ejection, ouster

Near Antonyms

repatriation, return; immigration

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

exile

verb

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

Recent Examples of exile from the Web

Last week, his administration’s lone proponent of a break with conservative economics was exiled from the White House.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Has Converted the GOP Base to His Ideology: Trump First," 22 Aug. 2017
Last season's star players Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are unavailable, the Belgian winger is recovering from a broken ankle and Costa has been exiled from the squad by Antonio Conte.

— SI.com, "Chelsea vs Arsenal Preview: Team News, Potential Lineups, Prediction and More," 5 Aug. 2017
Any American suspected by the Soviets of being a mole would have been shot or exiled or locked in a Siberian hole.

— vanityfair.com, "How Russia Mercilessly Played Trump for a Fool," 20 July 2017
Heineman, whose previous film Cartel Land was nominated for an Academy Award, embedded his crew with Aziz’s group, who were first exiled to Turkey and are now in Germany.

— jordan hoffman, HWD, "Meet the Fearless Filmmakers Taking on ISIS in City of Ghosts," 5 July 2017
Hugo delayed finishing Les Mis after being exiled in 1855 for nearly 10 years from France to Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, for his political views.

— brett molina, USA TODAY, "Google honors 'Les Misérables' author Victor Hugo," 30 June 2017
Deputy D.A.’s who didn’t pursue harsh enough sentences or lost too often at trial were exiled to the age-old prosecutor doghouse: juvenile court.

— megan rose, The Hive, "Kafka in Vegas: A Murdered Circus Star, a Dubious Confession, and America’s Prosecutorial Misconduct Epidemic," 19 June 2017
Before the couple left Iraq in 2002 seeking asylum, pro-Saddam Hussein forces killed three of Sarkaut Taro’s brothers, exiled his mother and burned their house, Bayan Taro said.

— Washington Post, "Kurdish man with minor record fights deportation from US," 17 June 2017
Anybody can exile their political enemy these days.

— sally jenkins, chicagotribune.com, "If the Warriors want to take a stand, go to the White House and shake President Trump's hand," 15 June 2017

First Known Use of exile

14th century

exile Synonyms

Synonyms

deport, displace, banish, expatriate, relegate, transport

Related Words

cast out, dismiss, eject, eliminate, evict, exclude, expel, expulse, kick out, oust, run out, throw out; excommunicate, ostracize, reject, repudiate, spurn; dispossess

Near Antonyms

naturalize, repatriate; accept, admit, receive, take in; entertain, harbor, house, shelter

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

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

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

exile

verb

Definition of exile for Students

exiled; exiling

:to force (someone) to leave his or her own country

Learn More about exile

See words that rhyme with exile Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for exile Spanish Central: Translation of exile Nglish: Translation of exile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of exile for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about exile

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exile

Definition of exile

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exile Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

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Synonym Discussion of exile

Other Government and Politics Terms

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exile

Definition of exile for English Language Learners

exile

Definition of exile for English Language Learners

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