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

In Austria, migration was a prominent topic leading up to last year’s election, which resulted in the far-right Freedom Party securing its first national election victorysince World War II. —Stephanie Lichtenstein, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025

From the beginning, the Paddington movies have linked their fictional bear, the creation of children’s book author Michael Bond, to themes of migration and sanctuary. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025

One need to only look at the history of migration to this country through the waves in the early 20th century: The Chinese, Poles and Irish left their home countries to find a better life. —Bill Gray, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025

The effects of an increase in migration that started in late 2022 and of Coloradans losing Medicaid coverage after the COVID-19 public health emergency ended aren’t fully captured in the most recent report, said Nancy Dolson, the department’s special financing division director. —Meg Wingerter, The Denver Post, 14 Feb. 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

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