Exodus
5 synonyms for Exodus, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A mass departure of people, often from a place they consider unsafe or unwelcoming.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
mass departure
hejira
hegira
How to use Exodus
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
mass exodus
rural exodus
an exodus of talent
Etymology
From Greek exodos, "a going out," from ex- ("out") plus hodos ("road, path") — also the title of the Old Testament book describing the Israelites' departure from Egypt.
Full origin of Exodus →Frequently asked questions
What does “Exodus” mean?
The word “Exodus” means a mass departure of people, often from a place they consider unsafe or unwelcoming. In plain terms, a large group of people leaving somewhere all at once.
How do you pronounce “Exodus”?
“Exodus” is pronounced EHK-suh-duhs (/ˈɛksədəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “Exodus” in a sentence?
Here is “Exodus” used in a sentence: “The war triggered a mass exodus of refugees toward the border.”
What part of speech is “Exodus”?
“Exodus” is a noun.
Where does the word “Exodus” come from?
The word “Exodus” comes from Greek. From Greek exodos, "a going out," from ex- ("out") plus hodos ("road, path") — also the title of the Old Testament book describing the Israelites' departure from Egypt.
Is “Exodus” a common word?
“Exodus” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between exodus and migration?
Exodus describes a mass departure of people, often from a place they consider unsafe or unwelcoming, carrying a sense of urgency or necessity. Migration is a broader, more neutral term for people moving from one place to another, which may or may not involve fleeing unsafe conditions.
Can exodus be used for things other than people leaving a country?
Yes, exodus is often used figuratively to describe any large-scale departure, such as an "exodus of employees" from a company or an "exodus of fans" from a stadium, not just literal migration from a country.
Is exodus always negative?
Exodus usually implies that people are leaving because a place has become unsafe, unwelcoming, or undesirable, which gives the word a generally negative connotation, even though it simply describes a mass departure.
