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 of immigrant

• migrant
• emigrant
• settler
• refugee

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

The Department of Homeland Security has also ordered a comprehensive review of all green cards issued to immigrants from countries deemed high-risk. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

The student body is majority Asian-American – the iGEM team is entirely Asian-American, children of immigrants. —Henry Schuster, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for food stamps, according to McWhorter. —Idaho Statesman, 1 Dec. 2025

The director of Casa Alterna, a nonprofit that offers housing and legal support for immigrants, Flores-Maisonet takes meticulous notes about anyone who answers yes. —Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing immigrant

• anti-immigrant

Rhymes for immigrant

• nonimmigrant

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