exodus

noun

ex·​o·​dus ˈek-sə-dəs  ˈeg-zə- 

1

capitalized : the mainly narrative second book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see Bible Table

2

: a mass departure : emigration

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Don't Leave Without the History of Exodos

The Biblical book of Exodus describes the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, so it's no surprise that the word exodus, uncapitalized, has come to refer more generally to any mass departure. Exodus was adopted into English (via Latin) from the Greek word Exodos, which literally means “the road out.” Exodos was formed by combining the prefix ex-, meaning “out of,” and hodos, meaning “road” or “way.” Indeed, many roads led out of hodos into English; other hodos descendants include episode, method, odometer, and period. While exodus is occasionally encountered in reference to an individual’s leaving (e.g., “his/her/their exodus”), such usage is likely to raise the eyebrows of editors who feel it should only refer to the departure en masse of a large group of people, as when novelist Nnedi Okorafor writes in her science fiction novel Lagoon (2015): “Everyone was trying to get somewhere, be it a church, a bar, home or out of Lagos. Then there was the exodus of people … to the parts of the city that had the least chance of flooding if the water rose too high.”

Synonyms

• gush
• outflow
• outpour
• outpouring

Examples of exodus in a Sentence

the mass exodus from the cities for the beaches and the mountains on most summer weekends

Recent Examples on the Web

The exodus of so many people, who tend to be highly educated and work in professional fields that are in high demand, has also been damaging for the economy, experts say. —Nataliya Vasilyeva, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025

My colleague Sam McDowell, in fact, wrote about the mass exodus and why that could end up being a good thing for the Jayhawks. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025

In response to the mass tech exodus that could significantly impact its economy, Delaware has moved to amend its corporate code to keep companies in the state. —Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025

With Sanders’ decision to stay put, the Buffaloes avoid all sorts of mass exodus — from the new fans and celebrities he’s attracted to all the media attention the Buffaloes have received. —Pat Graham, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Exodos, literally, road out, from ex- + hodos road

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

exodus

noun

ex·​o·​dus ˈek-səd-əs 

1

capitalized : the mainly narrative second book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see bible

2

: a mass departure

Etymology

from Latin Exodus "a book of the Bible," derived from Greek exodos "a road or journey out," from ex- "out" and hodos "road"