immigrant
noun
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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
Examples of immigrant in a Sentence
Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
The 125-year-old landmark, located in New York Harbor, first became a processing center for immigrants in 1892.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for immigrant 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immigrant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
1789, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing immigrant
Dictionary Entries Near immigrant
Cite this Entry
“Immigrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immigrant. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
immigrant
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on immigrant
Nglish: Translation of immigrant for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of immigrant for Arabic Speakers
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