Words / B2

EKS-yl/ˈeksaɪl/

Exile is being forced to live outside your country, or a person in that state: in exile; a political exile. The verb is exile someone. Expat is voluntary. Refugee overlaps but stresses flight from danger. A journalist lived in exile in Manchester. Do not call a year abroad exile.

Meaning

The state of being forced to live outside your country; also a person in that state.

Examples

• “The journalist lived in exile in Manchester after the threats.”
• “The regime exiled opponents, which is the verb.”

Good to know

in exile; live in exile; a tax exile (journalism). Verb: exile someone. Voluntary twin: expat. Related: refugee. Politics and history. Serious register.

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