exile

noun

ex·ile | \ˈeg-ˌzī(-ə)l,

ˈek-ˌsī(-ə)l

Definition of exile

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

exile

verb

exiled; exiling

Definition of exile (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

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

Other Words from exile Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about exile

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Choose the Right Synonym for exile

Verb

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

Examples of exile in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In Disobedience, Rachel Weisz plays the secular daughter of an Orthodox rabbi, returning for his memorial service after a prolonged estrangement that has bordered on exile. — Gary Thompson, Philly.com, "'Disobedience': A lesbian affair in an ultra Orthodox community | Movie review," 10 May 2018 Three of their best players were exiles during the conflicts of the 1990s. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Why this World Cup final is like no other," 13 July 2018 For Liu Xia, who spent the last year in the claustrophobic confines of her Beijing flat, gawked at and guarded, exile is a welcome outcome. — Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, "Poet Liu Xia escaped China, but will Beijing ever set her free?," 13 July 2018 Better tap the brakes on the exile of Carlos Tocci to the disabled list and the arrival of prospect Willie Calhoun. — Jeff Wilson, star-telegram, "Tocci to DL, Calhoun to Rangers? Don't hold your breath," 10 July 2018 The overall objective was removal — or what was variably termed self-deportation, exile or banishment. — Martha S. Jones, Time, "How the 14th Amendment's Promise of Birthright Citizenship Redefined America," 9 July 2018 And the record of the Polish government-in-exile and underground is much more complex and compromised than the statement allows. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, "Israeli historian accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of whitewashing Polish complicity in the Holocaust.," 5 July 2018 After a brief exile, McGwire has returned to baseball in a coaching capacity and is currently the bench coach for the San Diego Padres. — Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, "In wake of feud with Cubs, Sammy Sosa remains adamant about not using PEDs," 28 June 2018 Women have called for the right to drive since the 1990s, risking imprisonment, harassment, and exile in pursuit of equal rights under the law. — refinery29.com, "Women Can Finally Drive In Saudi Arabia, But They're Far From Liberated," 24 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Maduro is widely expected to win, in part because the National Electoral Council, or CNE, in charge of counting the votes is controlled by the president’s allies, and opposition leaders have been jailed, exiled or barred from running. — Eduard Freisler, miamiherald, "Venezuela's presidential election brings fresh grief to families of slain protesters | Miami Herald," 18 May 2018 Yameen is now poised to run virtually unopposed with all of his rivals either jailed or exiled. — Washington Post, "Maldives leader lifts 45-day state of emergency," 22 Mar. 2018 Tonga explained that both men supported his decision to exile the likes of Omega, the Young Bucks, and Rhodes. — Justin Barrasso, SI.com, "The Week in Wrestling: Tama Tonga Says Bullet Club Civil War ‘Has Been a Long Time Coming’," 11 July 2018 And ailing Andy Murray, local icon and two-time champ, exiled himself the day before the tournament started. — Jon Wertheim, SI.com, "Wimbledon Midterm Grades," 7 July 2018 In this predicament, exiled from home and hiding in plain sight. — New York Times, "The Famous Soccer Player Hiding in Plain Sight in a California Bakery," 3 May 2018 Qu, a royal adviser in the state of Chu, tried warn the king of impending danger, only to be exiled. — Casey Quackenbush, Time, "Here's What to Know About Asia's Annual Dragon Boat Festival," 18 June 2018 The two also undoubtedly have seen the criticism by Saudi and Emirati media of Qatar's ruling emir, 38-year-old Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which has included promoting exiled Qataris as possible leaders for the country. — Jon Gambrell, Fox News, "Analysis: Qatar crisis widens fissures among US allies," 4 June 2018 But the court battle continues, with the man sitting in a jail cell in Iraq while the Trump administration tries to find a way to exile him to Saudi Arabia. — Zachary Fryer-biggs, Vox, "The Pentagon says he tried to help ISIS. Now they want to ship this American to Saudi Arabia without a trial.," 27 Apr. 2018

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.