Crossword Genius

Old lie about banishment (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

exile

'banishment' is the definition.
(exile is a kind of banishment)

'old lie about' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime).
'about' indicates anagramming the letters.
'lie' is an anagram of 'ile'.
'ex'+'ile'='EXILE'

(Other definitions for exile that I've seen before include "Eject from country" , "Person forced from country" , "Displaced person from former French island" , "One banished" , "Person who now lives in another country" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror and The Daily Express.
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