deportation

noun

de·por·ta·tion ˌdē-ˌpȯr-ˈtā-shən

-pər-

plural deportations

Synonyms of deportation

: an act or instance of deporting

especially : the removal from a country by an executive government agency of a foreign-born noncitizen (such as one whose presence violates immigration laws or is ruled detrimental to the public welfare)

Examples of deportation in a Sentence

the deportation of the Jews from Spain in 1492

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

And as of Saturday, advocates who closely track deportation flights hadn’t logged any bound for Haiti in the past two weeks. — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026 He is expected to face deportation shortly after his release in a few weeks. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026 Immigrant rights advocates say the funding delay forced some children to appear in deportation proceedings without attorneys and may have exposed others to deportation. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 The Tennessee congressman had a history of controversial remarks, including claiming that Muslims are not welcome in American society and calling for the deportation of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as well as stripping him of citizenship. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deportation

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of deportation was in 1595

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

deportable

deportation

deportee

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Deportation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deportation. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Legal Definition

deportation

noun

de·por·ta·tion ˌdē-ˌpōr-ˈtā-shən

: an act or instance of deporting

specifically : the removal from a country of an alien whose presence is illegal or detrimental to the public welfare compare exclusion

deportation

noun

Synonyms of deportation

Examples of deportation in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Legal Definition

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deportation

noun

Synonyms of deportation

Examples of deportation in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for deportation

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Legal Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on deportation

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