immigrant

noun

im·​mi·​grant ˈi-mə-grənt 

: one that immigrates: such as

a

: a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence

b

: a plant or animal that becomes established in an area where it was previously unknown

immigrant adjective

Did you know?

immigrant or emigrant?

Both of these words come from the Latin migrare (“to move from one place to another”), and both have definitions in English that hew closely to their etymological roots, but there is a definite difference between how you would use each one. Emigrant is used in reference to the country that has been left (“an emigrant from Canada”), while immigrant is used in reference the country that one is destined for (“an immigrant to Spain”).

Synonyms

• emigrant
• émigré
• emigré
• in-migrant
• incomer [chiefly British]
• migrant
• out-migrant
• settler

Examples of immigrant in a Sentence

Millions of immigrants came to America from Europe in the 19th century.

The city has a large immigrant population.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the state prepares to transition to Ferguson's leadership, Faulk reiterated Washington's resilience in confronting potential threats to the rights of immigrants. —Dan Gooding, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025

But those statements stand in stark contrast to his hardline position to immediately begin the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025

As the number of immigrants living in Louisville grows, so does the number of immigrants in need of legal services, which is part of why the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law established a clinic that provides free immigration law services this fall. —Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 31 Dec. 2024

Despite his record and promises to seal the borders and deport millions of undocumented immigrants, Trump’s remarks raised hopes among some immigration advocates that the incoming president could take a softer tack on H-1B visas. —Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing immigrant

• anti-immigrant
• illegal alien/immigrant

Kids Definition

immigrant

noun

im·​mi·​grant ˈim-i-grənt 

1

: a person who comes to a country to live there

2

: a plant or animal that becomes established in an area where it did not occur previously

immigrant adjective