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

Researchers have previously identified humpback whales that have swum astray of typical migration patterns. —Alexandra E. Petri, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Scientists are scrambling to find out The future of migration Whaling in the 20th century killed nearly 95% to 99% of the humpback whale population in the Indian Ocean, according to Cheeseman. —Julianna Bragg, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024

Fertility and Mortality Rates But migration is only part of the story. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

The findings offer researchers a much more precise window of time in which the mixing occurred, as well as more insights into the demographics of early modern humans and the earliest Out-of-Africa migrations, according to the paper. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2024

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