Banished

Banished is the state of being expelled from a country, community, or organization, or the action of expelling someone. Historically, banishment has been used as a legal punishment by monarchs, colonial authorities, and other governing bodies as an alternative to imprisonment. The specifics—who is banished, for what offenses, and for how long—have varied across centuries and jurisdictions. In many contexts it involves a prohibition on residence within a defined area, an order to leave a territory, and a bar on returning. Some forms evolved into formal exiles or deportations, while others functioned as internal measures, such as house arrest or exile within the country.

In religious contexts banishment can resemble excommunication, disqualification from communal rites, or removal from membership. Socially, it can amount to ostracism, cutting individuals off from communal support networks and resources.

In culture and media, banished or titles derived from the concept have appeared in several works. The most widely known is a city-building video game titled Banished, developed by Shining Rock Software, in which players guide a group of settlers exiled from their homeland and establish a new settlement. Other films and books with the title commonly explore themes of isolation, exile, and punishment.

See also: banishment, exile, deportation, excommunication.