English Reference
adjective

banished

adj.
US /ˈbænɪʃt/ UK /bˈænɪʃt/ ban·ished

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Literary

    forced to leave your home or country and not allowed to return.

    having been subject to formal banishment or exile from a specific location or community.

    Simple

    The banished prince lived in a small cabin in the woods for many years.

    In context

    The banished leader spent his final years in a remote coastal village, writing memoirs about his lost influence.

    Usage

    Often used before a noun to describe a person's status.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is often found in historical or fantasy literature; in modern legal contexts, 'deported' or 'exiled' is more common.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    describes a thought, feeling, or object that is no longer allowed or present.

    referring to something that has been prohibited or systematically excluded from a particular environment.

    Simple

    Fear was banished from his mind as he stepped onto the stage.

    In context

    In this modern office, paper files are effectively banished in favour of a fully digital workflow.

    Usage

    Frequently appears in the passive voice or as a predicative adjective.

The whole region, Mencken argued, was a Baptist-Methodist stranglehold where fun and free thought were banished.

The Conversation· 9 Sept 2026

The first chant of the match was for Marcus Rashford, Manchester United’s returning rogue son, the one banished for 18 months, first to the Midlands and then Catalonia.

The Guardian· 30 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated