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

China has disclosed that the United States has repatriated four Chinese nationals to Beijing as part of a diplomatic agreement which has also led to the freeing of three Americans who were previously imprisoned in China for years. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

In 2024, the Peabody Museum reported repatriating the remains of 13 individuals and 25 burial items to the Santa Ynez Reservation in California. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 22 Nov. 2024

The aircraft will have to be repositioned or repatriated along with their crews, according to Air Canada. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Sep. 2024

The 26 artworks are a mere fraction of the thousands that were plundered and have yet to be repatriated, but their return is still greeted with celebrations in the street and front-page coverage in the newspaper. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024

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