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

Around here, for too many immigrants, here lawfully or not, going to church has actually been risky for months. —Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026

And state law prohibits Charlotte or any other North Carolina city from adopting sanctuary policies for undocumented immigrants, said Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, a frequent target of criticism from federal and local leaders over his interactions, or lack thereof, with ICE. —Charlotte Observer, 28 Jan. 2026

Thurmond’s video touted his own background as a child of immigrants and support for a new law that attempts to keep federal immigration agents out of schools, hospitals and other spaces. —Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026

It shouldn’t be forgotten that Pretti lost his life on Eat Street, a corridor revived by immigrants. —Laura Yuen, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026

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