# banishment

/ˈbænɪʃmənt/ (US) · /bˈænɪʃmənt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/banishment
Updated: 2026-05-27

## Definition

the act of being forced to leave a place or a group for a long time. It is a very strict punishment that stops you from living in your home country.

For teachers: the act of being forced to leave a country or place as a punishment or for political reasons. Often implies a permanent or indefinite exclusion from a specific territory.

## Examples

- The king ordered the banishment of the rebel from the kingdom.
- After the failed coup, the leader faced the prospect of permanent banishment to a remote island.
- The poet's exile was not merely a physical banishment from his homeland, but a profound cultural and linguistic isolation that shaped his later works.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.