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Definition of exile

exile

/ˈɛɡ.zaɪl/
ex · ile
Plural:exiles
•
Adjective:exilic
•
Past Simple:exiled
•
Past Participle:exiled
•
Present Participle:exiling
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exile Lexical Profile

exile Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state or a period of forced or voluntary absence from one's native country or home, typically for political or punitive reasons.

Example

"The former president spent ten years in exile before returning to his homeland."

2

A person who lives away from their native country, either by compulsion or by choice.

Example

"The cafe in Paris became a gathering place for political exiles and artists."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

To expel and bar someone from their native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.

Example

"The regime exiled its most vocal critics to remote islands."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for exile
Antonyms
View all antonyms for exile

• Nearby Words

exhumation
exhume
exhumer
exile
exist
existence
existent

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French exil, from Latin exilium ('banishment') and exul ('banished person'), formed from ex- ('out') and a root cognate with Greek alomai ('to wander').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Exile. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/exile
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