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Meaning & use

mass exodus

noun·Advanced

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UK/mæs ˈeksədəs/
US/mæs ˈɛksədəs/

Meanings

  1. nounsingular

    A departure of a very large number of people from a place at the same time or over a short period.

    Grammar: Used with a: a mass exodus of people from the city.

    Patterns

    • a mass exodus from somewhere
    • a mass exodus of people

    War caused a mass exodus from the border towns.

    A mass exodus of tourists followed the storm warning.

    The floods led to a mass exodus of families from the valley.

  2. nounsingularfigurative

    A sudden wave of people quitting a job, group or organization.

    Grammar: Often figurative: a mass exodus of staff.

    Patterns

    • a mass exodus of someone from something

    A mass exodus of senior staff left the company in trouble.

    Viewers staged a mass exodus from the app after the price rise.

    A mass exodus of players weakened the team.

Common combinations

trigger a mass exodus
The announcement triggered a mass exodus of staff.
mass exodus of workers
A mass exodus of workers hurt the factory.
mass exodus from the city
There was a mass exodus from the city before the holiday.
cause a mass exodus
Low pay can cause a mass exodus of nurses.
witness a mass exodus
The town witnessed a mass exodus after the mine closed.

Synonyms and how they differ

exodus
This is the same without 'mass', and is slightly more formal.
stampede
This suggests panic and speed, as with animals, while mass exodus can be orderly.
flight
This implies escaping danger, and is not used for leaving a job.
migration
This suggests a longer, often seasonal or planned movement, not a sudden departure.

Opposites

influx

Word family

exodus noun
a mass departure
exodus proper noun
the biblical book about Israelites leaving Egypt
exit noun
a way out or act of leaving
emigrate verb
to leave one's country to live elsewhere

Commonly confused: mass exodus or exodus vs. exedus? mass exodus or mass migration?

mass exodus vs exodus vs. exedus

The correct spelling is exodus; 'exedus' is a common mistake.

mass exodus vs mass migration

Migration often means a longer journey to settle elsewhere, while exodus focuses on the leaving.

Practice

After the factory announced layoffs, a ______ of skilled workers left the town.

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