Cryptic crossword clue
Exile, not initially free, opted for resettlement 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word DEPORTEE

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
D
E
P
O
R
T
E
E

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The straight part
We know that "Exile" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case exile = deportee.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does DEPORTEE mean?

DEPORTEE noun
  1. A deported person.

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