immigrant

noun

im·​mi·​grant ˈi-mə-grənt How to pronounce immigrant (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The other plaintiffs were five unnamed immigrants who take HIV medication. Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2025 The program allows people without a Social Security number to comply with their tax filing obligations, so many undocumented immigrants file their taxes this way. Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 Criminal convictions can make immigrants inadmissible to remain in the country. Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025 To help pay for it, immigrants would face various new fees, including when seeking asylum protections. Kevin Freking, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for immigrant

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of immigrant was in 1788

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Cite this Entry

“Immigrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immigrant. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

immigrant

noun
im·​mi·​grant ˈim-i-grənt How to pronounce immigrant (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on immigrant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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