immigrant

noun

im·mi·grant ˈi-mə-grənt

Synonyms of immigrant next

: one that immigrates: such as

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

: 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”).

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

These plans included detaining undocumented immigrants in camps while awaiting deportation. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024 That statement ignores the fact that Central Park was also, at one time, the site of Seneca Village, an African American community with three churches, which was also home to Irish immigrants. —

The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024 The case garnered international attention after false claims linked the incident to Haitian immigrants. —

Nancy Molnar, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024 In an article in Reason, Fiona Harrigan discussed the men, the role of immigrants in the U.S. economy and the initial framing of the tragedy. —

Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for immigrant