migratory

adjective

mi·​gra·​to·​ry ˈmī-grə-ˌtȯr-ē 

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by migration

2

: wandering, roving

Synonyms

• migrant
• mobile

Examples of migratory in a Sentence

most of the apple crop is picked by migratory workers

migratory birds heading south for the winter

Recent Examples on the Web

San Diego sits on the Pacific Flyway, a north-south route taken by migratory birds that can travel from Alaska south to South America. —Karen Kucher, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025

Sightings of Bon Secour’s resident nesting sea turtles, endangered Alabama beach mice, more than 350 species of migratory birds, foxes, armadillos, and more are common. —Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025

Climate damage will in the long-run change cities, geographies and economies and produce migratory trends that malevolent states or non-state actors (gangs and organized crime) will exploit. —Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

The World Wildlife Fund's latest count of migratory monarch butterflies offers some encouraging news for the eastern population while the western population may be struggling to survive. —Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for migratory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory

Kids Definition

migratory

adjective

mi·​gra·​to·​ry ˈmī-grə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

: having a way of life that includes making migrations

migratory workers