Word
expulsion
Phoneticsex·pul·sion, stress on the second syllable
US/ɪkˈspəɫʃən/
UK/ɛkspˈʌlʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the act of forcing someone to leave a place or an organization forever. This usually happens because the person did something very wrong, like breaking a school rule or a law.
n. the formal act of forcing someone to leave an institution, such as a school, or a country. Refers to a permanent removal rather than a temporary suspension.
Examples
“The student faced expulsion for cheating on the final exam.”
“The committee voted for his expulsion from the club after he repeatedly violated the code of conduct.”
“The sudden expulsion of foreign diplomats led to a significant breakdown in communication between the two nations, as neither side was willing to negotiate further.”
Examples
simple
“The student faced expulsion for cheating on the final exam.”
contextual
“The committee voted for his expulsion from the club after he repeatedly violated the code of conduct.”
complex
“The sudden expulsion of foreign diplomats led to a significant breakdown in communication between the two nations, as neither side was willing to negotiate further.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general process; countable when referring to a specific instance or event.
Pitfall
his expulsion from the school was for two weeks
his suspension from the school was for two weeks
Expulsion is permanent; for a temporary removal, the correct term is 'suspension'.
Real-World Examples
“The government aims to transfer 500 girls to mainland Spain, but the PP has demanded the expulsion of all the remaining migrants.” “The government recently has ordered the expulsion of people near the landfill and safety measures around the site because of a fear of collapses.” Etymology
From Middle English expulsioun, from Old French expulsion, from Latin expulsio, expulsionem.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/expulsion