exfiltration

C2+ Topic:Technology & Computing

US /ˌɛksfɪlˈtreɪʃən/ UK /ˌɛksfɪlˈtreɪʃn/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
the secret, covert removal of someone from a dangerous or hostile place

The embassy organized the exfiltration of diplomats before the invasion.
2

noun
the unauthorized transfer of data from a computer system

The breach led to the exfiltration of millions of user records.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the secret, covert removal... extraction evacuation withdrawal removal

2 noun · the unauthorized transfer... theft leak drain extraction

Opposites

infiltrationinsertion intrusion

Word family

Derived forms exfiltrate

Related forms infiltrationfilterfiltrate

Etymology

From ex- (out of) + infiltration, formed by analogy with infiltration. First recorded in military jargon during the Cold War, later adopted in computing for data breaches.

Topics

Technology & Computing Word Formation & Derivatives

# exfiltration

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˌɛksfɪlˈtreɪʃən
**IPA (UK):** ˌɛksfɪlˈtreɪʃn

## Meanings
1. the secret, covert removal of someone from a dangerous or hostile place
2. the unauthorized transfer of data from a computer system

## Examples
- The embassy organized the exfiltration of diplomats before the invasion.
- The breach led to the exfiltration of millions of user records.

## Synonyms
- extraction
- evacuation
- withdrawal
- removal
- theft
- leak

## Antonyms
- infiltration
- insertion
- intrusion

## Derived Forms
- exfiltrate

## Related Forms
- infiltration
- filter
- filtrate

## Etymology
From ex- (out of) + infiltration, formed by analogy with infiltration. First recorded in military jargon during the Cold War, later adopted in computing for data breaches.

## AI Etymology
Exfiltration comes from ex- (out of) + infiltration, formed by analogy with infiltration. First recorded in military jargon during the Cold War, later adopted in computing for data breaches. In current use it is a noun meaning "the secret, covert removal of someone from a dangerous or hostile place". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. Related English forms include infiltration, filter, and filtrate. A derived form is exfiltrate. The semantic development is therefore important as well as the form: the word moves from the older concrete, technical, or literal setting into the present figurative or specialized sense.

## Topics
- Technology & Computing
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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exfiltration

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