self-exile: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “self-exile” mean?
The voluntary act of leaving one's own country or place of residence, often for political, moral, or personal reasons.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The voluntary act of leaving one's own country or place of residence, often for political, moral, or personal reasons.
A state or condition of being voluntarily absent from one's native or accustomed environment, which can also be metaphorical (e.g., withdrawing from social circles).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant orthographic or syntactic differences. Usage is equally formal and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotations are largely the same, often linked to political dissent, artistic retreat, or moral protest.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British news media, especially in historical or political contexts related to former colonies.
Grammar
How to Use “self-exile” in a Sentence
[subject] chose self-exile[subject] lived in self-exilea period of self-exileVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-exile” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He self-exiled himself to a remote island. (Note: considered redundant by purists)
American English
- The poet self-exiled to Paris for a decade. (Note: considered non-standard)
adverb
British English
- He lived self-exiled for twenty years. (Rare, poetic)
American English
- She wrote self-exiled from her homeland. (Rare, poetic)
adjective
British English
- The self-exile community in London grew steadily.
American English
- He was a self-exile writer living in Toronto.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in biographies of controversial CEOs: 'After the scandal, the founder lived in self-exile.'
Academic
Common in political science, history, and literary studies to describe dissidents, writers, or deposed leaders.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Used when discussing major news about political figures.
Technical
Not applicable in STEM fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-exile”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-exile”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-exile”
- Using it to mean a simple vacation or trip abroad.
- Using 'self-exiled' as a verb form ('He self-exiled') is non-standard; prefer 'He went into self-exile'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily a noun (e.g., 'a state of self-exile'). The verb use ('to self-exile') is considered non-standard or informal; preferred phrasing is 'to go into self-exile' or 'to choose self-exile'.
'Exile' can be forced by others or chosen. 'Self-exile' specifies it is a voluntary act initiated by the person who leaves.
Yes, though less commonly. One can speak of 'self-exile from social media' or 'self-exile from the family business,' meaning a deliberate withdrawal.
Yes, 'self-exiled' is a standard participial adjective (e.g., 'a self-exiled monarch').
The voluntary act of leaving one's own country or place of residence, often for political, moral, or personal reasons.
Self-exile is usually formal, literary, journalistic in register.
Self-exile: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself ˈek.saɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself ˈek.saɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A king in self-exile”
- “To dine on the bitter bread of self-exile”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SELF-help book titled 'How to EXILE Yourself' – it's a choice you make for yourself.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXILE IS A CHOSEN PRISON; THE HOMELAND IS A LOST PARADISE.
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best illustrates 'self-exile'?