WordValeexile
forced absence from one's own country
In more detail
1. (noun) the state of being forced to leave your country or home, usually as a punishment or for political reasons
2. (noun) a person who is forced to leave their country or home
3. (verb) to force someone to leave their country or home
Examples
- He lived in exile for twenty years before returning to his homeland.
- She became an exile after opposing the government.
- The dictator exiled his political enemies.
How to use exile
Exile emphasizes forced separation from one's homeland, often for political or punitive reasons, and carries weight and gravity. It differs from temporary relocation in suggesting a lasting, involuntary state. The term is used in historical, political, and personal contexts where displacement is permanent or indefinite.
Common phrases
- forced exile
- political exile
- go into exile
- send someone into exile
- exile from
Synonyms
banishment · expulsion · deportation · displacement · ousting
Opposites
return · repatriation
Word family
exiled (adjective) · exile (noun/verb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'exile' for voluntary departure or temporary travel abroad; exile specifically implies force and permanence, not choice.
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