Exodus
EHK-suh-duhs
Exodus (noun) means a mass departure of people, often from a place they consider unsafe or unwelcoming. Example: “The war triggered a mass exodus of refugees toward the border.”
noun
1
A mass departure of people, often from a place they consider unsafe or unwelcoming.
"The war triggered a mass exodus of refugees toward the border."
"There was a quiet exodus of staff after the company announced the layoffs."
How to use Exodus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large group of people leaving somewhere all at once.
Common pairings
mass exodus
rural exodus
an exodus of talent
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Word forms
- Plural
- exoduses, exodusses, exodi
- Third person singular
- exoduses
- Past tense
- exodused
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The war triggered a mass _____ of refugees toward the border.
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Exodus
See all rhymes for 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.
