migration

noun

mi·​gra·​tion mī-ˈgrā-shən 

: the act, process, or an instance of migrating

watched the migration of the birds overhead

migrational

mī-ˈgrā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Examples of migration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The pandemic and proliferation of remote work have led to migration out of the major U.S. cities where jobs and industries were previously concentrated. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025

For the first time, an international team of scientists known as the Worldwide Painted Lady Migration Project has traced their migration route. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025

This Brazilian-French co-production is a meditation on memory, migration, and the invisible ties that bind generations together. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025

Interestingly, the team found that migration patterns reflect economic disparities and social networks. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French or Latin; French, from Latin migration-, migratio, from migratus (past participle of migrare to migrate) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at migrate

First Known Use

circa 1527, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing migration

• pre-migration

Rhymes for migration

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

migration

noun

mi·​gra·​tion

mī-ˈgrā-shən

1

: the act or an instance of migrating

2

: a group of individuals that are migrating

Medical Definition

migration

noun

mi·​gra·​tion mī-ˈgrā-shən 

: the act, process, or an instance of migrating

migration of larval nematodes to the lungs