exodus
noun
Exodus — the mass departure of a people fleeing a hostile place
Definition
A journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
In depth
An exodus is a journey undertaken by a large group to escape from a hostile environment, the word carrying immense historical and religious weight from its association with the biblical departure of the Israelites from Egypt. In broader use, it describes any significant mass departure, whether driven by war, disaster, persecution, or simple opportunity elsewhere.
Origin
The word comes from Greek exodos, a going out, formed from ex- (out) and hodos (way or road), and entered English specifically through the biblical Book of Exodus, which recounts the Israelites' departure from slavery in Egypt. That foundational religious narrative has lent the secular word an enduring sense of profound, often liberating significance whenever it describes any mass departure.
Usage examples
"The exodus from the war-torn region left entire villages standing empty within weeks."
"Economists tracked the exodus of young professionals from the struggling city with growing concern."
"The novel opens during the great exodus, a single family's small story set against an enormous historical movement."
How to use it
Exodus carries significant historical, religious, and emotional weight, suiting writing about large-scale displacement, migration, or departure. Writers should be mindful of the word's specific biblical resonance, which colors even secular uses with an implicit sense of historic, almost mythic significance.
Related concepts
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