immigrant
Immigrant (noun) means a person who moves from one country to live permanently in another. Example: “Her grandparents were immigrants who arrived from Italy in the 1950s.”
How to Use Immigrant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who has moved from their home country to settle in a new one.
Don't confuse with "emigrant" — you emigrate FROM a country and immigrate TO one; the same person can be described both ways depending on which country you're talking about.
Word Forms
immigrants plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her grandparents were _____ who arrived from Italy in the 1950s.
Etymology
From Latin immigrans, "migrating into," from in- ("into") plus migrare ("to migrate").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related Words
Rhymes for immigrant
See all rhymes for immigrant →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “immigrant” mean?
The word “immigrant” means a person who moves from one country to live permanently in another. In plain terms, someone who has moved from their home country to settle in a new one.
How do you pronounce “immigrant”?
“Immigrant” is pronounced IH-mihg-ruhnt (/ˈɪmɪɡɹənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “immigrant” in a sentence?
Here is “immigrant” used in a sentence: “Her grandparents were immigrants who arrived from Italy in the 1950s.”
What is the opposite of “immigrant”?
The opposite of “immigrant” — its antonyms — is emigrant.
What part of speech is “immigrant”?
Depending on how it is used, “immigrant” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “immigrant” come from?
The word “immigrant” comes from Latin. From Latin immigrans, "migrating into," from in- ("into") plus migrare ("to migrate").
Is “immigrant” a common word?
“Immigrant” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “immigrant” have?
“Immigrant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who moves from one country to live permanently in another.
What is the difference between an immigrant and an emigrant?
The same person can be both, depending on perspective. They are an emigrant from the country they leave and an immigrant in the country where they settle: emigrant looks at the departure, immigrant looks at the arrival.
What is the difference between an immigrant and a migrant?
Migrant is the broadest term for anyone who moves from one place to another, including temporary moves and moves within a country. An immigrant specifically moves from one country to another intending to live there permanently.
What is the difference between an immigrant and a refugee?
An immigrant is anyone who moves to another country to live permanently, for any reason. A refugee is someone forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or danger, a status specifically defined in international law.
Do you immigrate to or emigrate from a country?
You immigrate to a country and emigrate from one; the prepositions follow the direction each verb describes. Remembering that immigrate means moving in and emigrate means exiting keeps the pair straight.