immigration

noun

im·​mi·​gra·​tion ˌi-mə-ˈgrā-shən How to pronounce immigration (audio)
plural immigrations
: an act or instance of immigrating
specifically : travel into a country for the purpose of permanent residence there
Especially during these months when there has been constant talk of immigration and its myriad challenges, both here and on European national borders … Bob Greene
illegal/legal immigration
immigration reform/policy/law
Drawing historical comparisons is always a fraught process, especially when the subject is as contentious as immigration. James Hannan
There is only a passing comment on Chinese and Japanese immigration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, plus a short section on the truly global wave of immigrants that swept into America after the Second World War … Nicholas Guyatt
The Middle Ages is the story of successive migrations and immigrationsJanet L. Nelson
immigrational adjective
studied the region's immigrational history

Examples of immigration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Yet immigration agents now routinely wear masks, drive unmarked cars, and refuse to identify themselves. Oriana Van Praag, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026 The civil rights lawyers representing the detainees in the lawsuit had argued that attorneys could not simply show up unannounced during visitation hours at the facility, a policy available at other immigration detention centers. Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 Now, the court is again being asked to decide who is an American citizen by birth as immigration has returned as a major cultural and political divide. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026 The decision follows a series of clashes between the federal government and Minnesota officials over immigration enforcement. CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for immigration

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of immigration was in 1625

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Immigration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immigration. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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