What does expulsion mean?
Expulsion is the act of forcing someone or something out of a place, organization, or territory. It most often appears in formal contexts: a student expelled from school, a member ousted from a club, or diplomats ordered out of a foreign country. The word carries a distinctly punitive connotation — expulsion is rarely voluntary and typically follows misconduct, political dispute, or legal action. It derives from the Latin expulsio, rooted in the verb pellere, 'to drive or push out', making it a linguistic cousin of words like impel and propel. In medicine and physics, the term can also describe the ejection of matter from a body or mechanism. Its gravity makes it a staple of official announcements, disciplinary codes, and headlines about international relations, where 'the expulsion of envoys' signals a serious diplomatic rift.
nounThe act of forcing someone or something out, whether from a school, organization, country, or body; the state of being expelled.
- The act of formally forcing someone out of a school, organization, or institution.
- The forced removal of someone from a country or territory (deportation or banishment).
- The physical act of ejecting something from a body or container.
"The student faced expulsion after repeated violations of the school's code of conduct."
"Her expulsion from the academy came as a shock to classmates and teachers alike."
"The government ordered the expulsion of two diplomats accused of espionage."
The plural is standard when referring to multiple instances, such as several students dismissed or repeated deportations over time.
"The university reported a record number of expulsions last academic year."
Expulsion comes from the same Latin root as 'impulse' — the Romans who coined it literally thought of being thrown out as a violent 'pushing out'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of expulsion
Expulsion traces back to Latin expulsio, formed from expellere, itself built on pellere, meaning 'to drive, strike, or push'. The word entered English in the early modern period, by the 16th century, alongside related forms like expel and expulse. It shares its deep root with a whole family of 'push' words, including impulse, pulse, and repel, all descendants of the same energetic Latin verb.
Related word forms
How expulsion is actually used
A formal word used in institutional, legal, and diplomatic contexts; in everyday speech people often say 'getting kicked out' instead. It carries a strong connotation of punishment or sanction and is almost always unwelcome for those affected.
Easily confused with expulsion
Expulsion forcibly removes a person or thing from a place or group, while expunging erases or deletes something, such as an entry or record.