# expel

/ɪkˈspɛɫ/ (US) · /ɛkspˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/expel
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. from school or organization

verb · CEFR B2

to officially force someone to leave a school, club, or organization because they did something wrong.

For teachers: to officially exclude a person from membership or attendance in an institution, typically as a disciplinary measure.

- The student was expelled from school for cheating on his final exams.
- The committee voted unanimously to expel the member after discovering he had repeatedly violated the organization's code of ethics.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'from' before the name of the institution.

### 2. to push out physically

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to force air, water, or gas out of something.

For teachers: to force out or eject a substance from a body, container, or system.

- You should expel all the air from your lungs before you start the next exercise.
- The engine's exhaust system is designed to expel waste gases efficiently while minimizing noise pollution.

Usage: Commonly used in medical or mechanical contexts to describe the movement of fluids or gases.

### 3. from a country

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to force someone to leave a country, often for political or legal reasons.

For teachers: to force a person, especially a foreign national, to leave a country by official order.

- The government decided to expel the foreign diplomats following the scandal.
- Authorities may expel individuals who are found to be residing in the country without valid documentation or legal standing.

## Examples

- The school decided to expel the student for cheating.
- The government may expel foreign diplomats if they are found to be engaging in illegal activities.
- The engine is designed to expel exhaust gases through a specialized filtration system to minimize the release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

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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.