# deport

/dɪˈpɔɹt/ (US) · /dɪpˈɔːt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deport
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

to officially force someone to leave a country, usually because they do not have the legal right to stay there.

For teachers: to expel a foreign national from a country on legal grounds, such as illegal entry or the commission of a crime. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the person or group being removed.

## Examples

- The government decided to deport the man for overstaying his visa.
- After his residency permit was revoked, the authorities began the legal process to deport him to his home country.
- International human rights organizations often monitor whether a state's decision to deport individuals violates non-refoulement principles if the destination country is deemed unsafe.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and often takes the preposition 'to' to indicate the destination.

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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.