migrant

noun

mi·​grant ˈmī-grənt 

plural migrants

: someone or something that migrates: such as

a

: a person who moves regularly in order to find work especially in harvesting crops

farms employing migrants during the growing season

b

: immigrant sense a

especially : refugee

… administration officials announced they would work to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border … and penalize people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally through another country on their way to the U.S. border.

—Colleen Long

c

: an animal (such as a gray whale, monarch butterfly, leatherback sea turtle, or Canada goose) that moves usually long distances from one habitat or geographic region to another

migrant adjective

migrant labor

migrant birds

Synonyms of migrant

• immigrant
• refugee
• settler
• emigrant

Examples of migrant in a Sentence

migrants in search of work on farms

Not all birds are migrants.

Recent Examples on the Web

In both places, Leo focused his message to Europe to uphold the dignity of migrants. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

New Zealand has received a surge in interest from foreign investors since expanding its rules for migrants. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 July 2026

In May of last year, Leo said the dignity of migrants must be respected, speaking to world diplomats and invoking his own immigrant background. — Connor Greene, Time, 4 July 2026

With his visit, Leo followed in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who made the plight of migrants and refugees a priority of his pontificate. — ABC News, 4 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin migrant-, migrans, present participle of migrare

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing migrant

• in-migrant
• out-migrant

Kids Definition

migrant

noun

mi·​grant ˈmī-grənt 

: a person, animal, or plant that migrates

migrant adjective