Word

exile

noun C1

/ˈɛɡˌzaɪl/

Meanings

noun

the state of being forced to live away from your home country, or the time spent living away

noun

a person who has been forced to leave their country and live elsewhere

verb

to force someone to leave their country or home, especially for political reasons

Definition

Exile is the state of being forced to live away from your home country, or a person who has been sent away.

Exile refers to living outside your homeland because you are forced to leave or are not allowed to return. It can describe both the condition of being away and the person who is living in that situation. Exile is often connected with politics, conflict, or punishment, but it can also be used more generally for long, unwanted separation from home.

Examples

After the coup, he lived in exile for decades and spoke cautiously about returning.
The novel follows an exile who rebuilds her life in a new language and culture.
They chose exile rather than sign a confession they believed was false.
The regime decided to exile its leading critic to a remote island to silence him.
I felt a kind of exile during my first year abroad, even though the move was voluntary.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse exile with exiled: use exile as a noun or verb, and exiled as the adjective/past participle (e.g., “an exiled writer”).