repatriate

verb

re·​pa·​tri·​ate (ˌ)rē-ˈpā-trē-ˌāt 

-ˈpa-

repatriated; repatriating

transitive verb

: to restore or return to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship

repatriate prisoners of war

repatriate

(ˌ)rē-ˈpā-trē-ət 

-trē-ˌāt

-ˈpa-

noun

Examples of repatriate in a Sentence

Countries are required to repatriate prisoners of war when conflict has ended.

Recent Examples on the Web

These complications can be averted if the taxpayer voluntarily repatriates the foreign assets, usually done as part of a plea agreement. —Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.d., Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

Despite those enormous numbers, the missing – those never repatriated, their fates unknown – get scant attention in coverage of the migrant crisis. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025

The Biden administration repatriated more than 500 Chinese nationals in the last year, laying the groundwork for systematic deportations across the Pacific Ocean. —Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025

One Yemeni died in Oman after being told he and 27 others would be repatriated to Yemen, the British activist group CAGE International said. —Ellen Knickmeyer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin repatriatus, past participle of repatriare to go home again — more at repair entry 3

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

repatriate

1 of 2 verb

re·​pa·​tri·​ate

(ˈ)rē-ˈpā-trē-ˌāt,

-ˈpa-

repatriated; repatriating

: to return to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship

repatriate prisoners of war

repatriation

(ˌ)rē-ˌpā-trē-ˈā-shən

-ˌpa-

noun

repatriate

2 of 2 noun

re·​pa·​tri·​ate

(ˈ)rē-ˈpā-trē-ət,

-tre-ˌāt

: one that is repatriated