disembarked

Disembarked is the past tense and past participle of the verb disembark. It means to exit a vehicle or vessel, or to go ashore. The term is commonly used in nautical and aviation contexts, but it also applies to trains, buses, and other modes of transport.

Etymology: from dis- (apart, away) + embark (to go on board). Embark derives from Middle French embarquer, from en- and barque. Disembark has been in use since the early modern period; debark is a less common variant, and deplane is another widely used term in air travel. The noun form disembarkation (or disembarkment) denotes the act or process of disembarking.

Usage notes: In safety and procedural contexts, disembarkation is often orderly and supervised, particularly after ships docking, aircraft arrival, or port-of-entry clearance. The term can function adjectivally: “disembarked passengers” refers to people who have already left the vessel. In some jurisdictions, disembarkation is followed by immigration or customs formalities.

Alternatives and nuance: Debark is used in some technical or military contexts but is less common in everyday language. In aviation, deplane is more typical for leaving an aircraft; disembarkation may be used in formal or written reports.

See also: embarkation, debark, disembarkation, deplane.