immigrant

noun

im·​mi·​grant ˈi-mə-grənt 

: one that immigrates: such as

a

: a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence

b

: a plant or animal that becomes established in an area where it was previously unknown

immigrant adjective

Did you know?

immigrant or emigrant?

Both of these words come from the Latin migrare (“to move from one place to another”), and both have definitions in English that hew closely to their etymological roots, but there is a definite difference between how you would use each one. Emigrant is used in reference to the country that has been left (“an emigrant from Canada”), while immigrant is used in reference the country that one is destined for (“an immigrant to Spain”).

Synonyms

• emigrant
• émigré
• emigré
• in-migrant
• incomer [chiefly British]
• migrant
• out-migrant
• settler

Examples of immigrant in a Sentence

Millions of immigrants came to America from Europe in the 19th century.

The city has a large immigrant population.

Recent Examples on the Web

The policy will provide legal status and protections for about 500,000 American families and roughly 50,000 noncitizen children of immigrants under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a US citizen, a senior administration official said. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 18 June 2024

President Joe Biden will announce on Tuesday two new executive actions that could provide relief to thousands of undocumented immigrants who have been in the country for several years. —Armando Garcia, ABC News, 18 June 2024

Italian immigrants began selling ice cream on the streets in the mid-19th century. —Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 17 June 2024

The coalition argues that increasing rates is critical to improving access to care as the state expands enrollment to immigrants who are in the country illegally. —Laurel Rosenhall, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing immigrant

• anti-immigrant
• illegal alien/immigrant

Kids Definition

immigrant

noun

im·​mi·​grant ˈim-i-grənt 

1

: a person who comes to a country to live there

2

: a plant or animal that becomes established in an area where it did not occur previously

immigrant adjective