exodus

noun

ex·​o·​dus ˈek-sə-dəs How to pronounce exodus (audio) ˈeg-zə- How to pronounce exodus (audio)
1
capitalized : the mainly narrative second book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see Bible Table
2
: a mass departure : emigration

Did you know?

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.”

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The exodus came shortly after former Trump posted on Truth Social for people to evacuate Tehran amid Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear and military facilities. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025 Additionally, the widespread exodus of liberals, journalists, and news organizations to Threads, Mastodon, or Bluesky following Musk’s takeover hasn’t affected X’s reach in the 12 countries surveyed by the study. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 17 June 2025 Pritzker and Illinois economic development officials have yet to find a battle plan to counter the corporate exodus. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025 Amid the upheaval and exodus of longtime federal prosecutors, one quiet 10th floor office in a remote outpost of the Justice Department has come to symbolize the withering impact of changes at the agency. Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for exodus

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of exodus was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Exodus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exodus. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

exodus

noun
ex·​o·​dus ˈek-səd-əs How to pronounce exodus (audio)
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on exodus

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!