Banishment — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈba-nish/ ban·ish

Meaning & Definition of Banishment

Banishment (verb)

  1. to require by authority to leave a country
  2. to drive out or remove from a home or place of usual resort or continuance
  3. to clear away, dispel

Banishment (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the forced removal from a homeland

    "when Romeo learns he has been sentenced to banishment, he claims it is worse than death because he will be separated from Juliet forever"

    similar: deportation, displacement, exile, expatriation, expulsion, relegation
    related: ostracism, extradition, diaspora, dispersion, scattering, emigration, migration, evacuation, transportation, dispossession, ejection, ouster
    near: repatriation, return, arrival, entry, immigration

Related Entry: Banish (verb)

Banish is a different word from Banishment. The synonyms below are for banish, not for banishment.

  1. to force to leave a country

    "in the old days, criminals were sometimes banished to distant lands"

    similar: deport, displace, exile, expatriate, relegate, transport
    related: cast out, dismiss, eject, eliminate, evict, exclude, expel, expulse, kick out, oust, run out, throw out, excommunicate, ostracize, reject, repudiate, spurn, dispossess
    near: naturalize, repatriate, accept, admit, receive, take in, entertain, harbor, house, shelter

  2. to drive or force out

    "permanently banished the troublemakers from the youth recreational center"

    similar: boot (out), bounce, cast out, chase, dismiss, drum (out), eject, expel, extrude, kick out, oust, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) (chiefly British), turn out, give one the gate (slang), send packing
    related: deforce, deport, displace, dispossess, evict, exile, expatriate, ostracize, read out, shut out, ax, can, cashier, defenestrate, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate
    near: accept, admit, receive, take, take in, welcome, entertain, harbor, house, lodge, shelter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Banishment

The most common words with a similar meaning to Banishment:

deportation, displacement, exile, expatriation, expulsion, relegation

Related Words for Banishment

ostracism, extradition, diaspora, dispersion, scattering, emigration, migration, evacuation, transportation, dispossession, ejection, ouster

Near Antonyms of Banishment

repatriation, return, arrival, entry, immigration

Word Forms of Banishment

Inflections: banished, banishing, banishes

Derived words: banisher (noun), banishment (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Banishment

Middle English banysshen "to condemn by proclamation to leave a country, exile, outlaw, expel, drive away," borrowed from Anglo-French baniss-, stem of banir "to proclaim, (of a king or noble) summon by a call to arms, condemn by proclamation to leave a country, exclude" (also continental Old French), going back to a Gallo-Romance adaptation of Old Low Franconian *bannjan, verbal derivative of *banna- "summon to arms by a lord" ban:2

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Banishment

What does "Banishment" mean?

"Banishment" means to require by authority to leave a country. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to require by authority to leave a country.

What is another word for "Banishment"?

Other words for "Banishment" include deportation, displacement, exile, expatriation, expulsion and relegation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Banishment" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Banishment"?

There are 18 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Banishment". Common alternatives include deportation, displacement, exile, expatriation, expulsion and relegation.

How do you use "Banishment" in a sentence?

Examples of "Banishment" in a sentence: "when Romeo learns he has been sentenced to banishment, he claims it is worse than death because he will be separated from Juliet forever".

Is "Banishment" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Banishment" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Banishment"?

"Banishment" is pronounced /ˈba-nish/ and divided into syllables as ban·ish.

What is the origin of the word "Banishment"?

"Banishment" comes from Middle English banysshen "to condemn by proclamation to leave a country, exile, outlaw, expel, drive away," borrowed from Anglo-French baniss-, stem of banir "to proclaim, (of a king or noble) summon by a call to arms, condemn by proclamation to leave a country, exclude" (also continental Old French), going back to a Gallo-Romance adaptation of Old Low Franconian *bannjan, verbal derivative of *banna- "summon to arms by a lord" ban:2. First known use: 14th century.

What is another word for "Banishment" meaning "the forced removal from a homeland"?

When "Banishment" (noun) means the forced removal from a homeland, synonyms include deportation, displacement, exile, expatriation, expulsion and relegation.