exodus

noun

ex·​o·​dus ˈek-sə-dəs  ˈeg-zə- 

1

Exodus : the mainly narrative second book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see Bible Table

2

: a mass departure : emigration

Did you know?

Don't Leave Without the History of Exodos

The Biblical book of Exodus describes the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, so it's no surprise that the word exodus, uncapitalized, has come to refer more generally to any mass departure. Exodus was adopted into English (via Latin) from the Greek word Exodos, which literally means “the road out.” Exodos was formed by combining the prefix ex-, meaning “out of,” and hodos, meaning “road” or “way.” Indeed, many roads led out of hodos into English; other hodos descendants include episode, method, odometer, and period. While exodus is occasionally encountered in reference to an individual’s leaving (e.g., “his/her/their exodus”), such usage is likely to raise the eyebrows of editors who feel it should only refer to the departure en masse of a large group of people, as when novelist Nnedi Okorafor writes in her science fiction novel Lagoon (2015): “Everyone was trying to get somewhere, be it a church, a bar, home or out of Lagos. Then there was the exodus of people … to the parts of the city that had the least chance of flooding if the water rose too high.”

Synonyms of exodus

• flow
• outflow
• outpouring

Examples of exodus in a Sentence

the mass exodus from the cities for the beaches and the mountains on most summer weekends

Recent Examples on the Web

Yang’s departure comes after a cast exodus after Season 50; Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim all exited over the summer. —Peter White, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2025

In the international cut, the vehicle, which did not stop, has a red beacon light on top — a detail that conveys the apathy of state authorities during the migrant exodus. —Viren Naidu, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2025

The size of the exodus of top officers meant that some of those who replaced the generals lacked the background and contacts to plan, coordinate, and execute effective counterdrug and counterterrorism operations as successfully as previous military leadership. —Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025

Trump loyalists have roiled the Justice Department, shattering norms and leading to a mass exodus of veteran officials, but the 92-year-old chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee has remained focused on the past. —Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Exodos, literally, road out, from ex- + hodos road

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

exodus

noun

ex·​o·​dus ˈek-səd-əs 

1

capitalized : the mainly narrative second book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see bible

2

: a mass departure

Etymology

from Latin Exodus "a book of the Bible," derived from Greek exodos "a road or journey out," from ex- "out" and hodos "road"