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”).
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
His attorneys say 82 other immigrants will be on Surovtsev’s flight with the same fate, and fear for their safety in wartime Ukraine.
—
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
When the conversation shifted to health care for undocumented immigrants, specifically people entering through legal crossings and legitimately proceeding through the asylum or residency process, candidates again split along ideological lines.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
To them, white citizens’ social, cultural and political values are superior to those of nonwhite citizens and immigrants.
—Justin Pickett, The Conversation, 17 Nov. 2025
The Public Religion Research Institute concluded in 2022 that support for Christian nationalism strongly correlated with a belief in the great replacement theory, or the claim that White Christian Americans were being replaced by Black Americans, immigrants, and others.
—Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for immigrant
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Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
When the conversation shifted to health care for undocumented immigrants, specifically people entering through legal crossings and legitimately proceeding through the asylum or residency process, candidates again split along ideological lines.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
To them, white citizens’ social, cultural and political values are superior to those of nonwhite citizens and immigrants.
—Justin Pickett, The Conversation, 17 Nov. 2025
The Public Religion Research Institute concluded in 2022 that support for Christian nationalism strongly correlated with a belief in the great replacement theory, or the claim that White Christian Americans were being replaced by Black Americans, immigrants, and others.
—Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for immigrant
Cite this Entry
“Immigrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immigrant. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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