noun
exile
EHG-zyl
noun
1
The state of being forced to live away from your home country, often for political reasons.
"He spent twenty years in exile before the regime finally collapsed."
2
A person living away from their home country because they have been forced out.
"The café was a favourite meeting spot for political exiles."
verb
1
To force someone to leave their home country, usually as punishment.
"Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba."
How to Use Exile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing forced out of your home country, or the person this happens to.
Common pairings
live in exile
go into exile
political exile
exiled from
Word Forms
exiled past tense, exiles plural, exiles singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “exile”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He spent twenty years in _____ before the regime finally collapsed.
Etymology
From Old French exil, from Latin exsilium, "banishment," related to exsul, "a banished person."