banish

[ban-ish]

verb (used with object)

1. to expel from or relegate to a country or place by authoritative decree; condemn to exile.

   He was banished to Devil's Island.

   Synonyms: deport, outlaw, expatriate, exile

2. to compel to depart; send, drive, or put away.

   to banish sorrow.

banish

/ ˈbænɪʃ /

verb

1. to expel from a place, esp by an official decree as a punishment

2. to drive away

   to banish gloom

Other Word Forms

• banishment noun
• banisher noun
• self-banished adjective
• unbanished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of banish¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English banisshen, from Anglo-French, Old French baniss-, long stem of banir, from unrecorded Frankish bannjan “to proclaim,” akin to ban ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of banish¹

C14: from Old French banir , of Germanic origin; compare Old High German ban

Example Sentences

The old doubts could have been banished with a statement result.

From BBC

But that might effectively banish her from returning to the United States, where she had toiled as a field worker for most of the past quarter-century — and where she had deep family ties.

From Los Angeles Times

But all it takes is a few explosive examples to banish truth from conscientiousness.

From Los Angeles Times

Was he about to banish the Portrush demons of six years ago where he hit his opening tee shot out of bounds on his way to a quadruple-bogey eight, a 79 and eventual missed cut?

From BBC

Vera, the daughter of a Russian father and Korean mother, may be banished to second-class citizenry.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dismiss 
• dispel 
• drive away www.thesaurus.com
• eject 
• eliminate 
• eradicate 
• evict 
• exclude 
• exile 
• get rid of 
• isolate 
• ostracize 
• oust 
• outlaw 
• relegate 
• remove