Noun: The state of being forced to live away from your home or country, often for political reasons. Verb: To force someone to leave their home or country and not return.
From Old French *exil*, from Latin *exsilium* meaning ‘banishment’ or ‘removal’. The Latin root *ex-* means ‘out’ and *salire* (in a related form) means ‘to leap’, suggesting being cast or leapt out of one’s homeland.
Exile is not just about physical distance; historically it was one of the harshest punishments because it cut you off from your identity and community. Many famous works of literature and philosophy were actually written in exile, turning forced separation into powerful creativity.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.