repatriation

noun

re·​pa·​tri·​a·​tion (ˌ)rē-ˌpā-trē-ˈā-shən 

-ˌpa-

plural repatriations

: the act or process of restoring or returning someone or something to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship : the act of repatriating or the state of being repatriated

While officials privately acknowledge there is scant legal basis for repatriation, their public statements suggest that they would use lawsuits, diplomatic pressure and shame to bring home looted objects—not unlike Italy, Greece and Egypt, which have sought, with some success, to recover antiquities in European and American museums.

—Andrew Jacobs

They say they have that right under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which requires that human remains and artifacts be returned to Indian tribes that can show a cultural link.

—Timothy Egan

This left him an illegal immigrant in Hong Kong, subject to arrest and repatriation at any time.

—Nicholas D. Kristof

Examples of repatriation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An agreement to restart repatriation flights carrying immigrants who were in the U.S. illegally was reached later that same month. —Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025

The repatriation not only strengthens Nepal’s cultural heritage but also sets a precedent for future cooperation between Nepal and the AIC. —Daniel Cassady For Artnews, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2025

In a letter sent to UC chancellors last week, Drake instituted a range of directives to improve the system’s oversight, tracking, and transparency of the repatriation process. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2025

The news of their repatriation brought joy to their families. —Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for repatriation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration