migrant

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noun mi·grant \ ˈmī-grənt \

Definition of migrant

:one that migrates: such as

a :a person who moves regularly in order to find work especially in harvesting crops

b :an animal that shifts from one habitat to another

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migrant

adjective

See migrant defined for English-language learners

See migrant defined for kids

Examples of migrant in a Sentence

migrants in search of work on farms
Not all birds are migrants.

Recent Examples of migrant from the Web

These finds testify to the mass wave of migrants who traveled from China to South America in the latter half of the 19th century.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Remains of 19th-Century Chinese Laborers Found at Pyramid in Peru," 29 Aug. 2017
Haitian migrants living in the US prepare to cross the US and Canadian border along Roxham Road on Friday, August 11, 2017.

— jacqueline charles, miamiherald, "Who is encouraging Haitians to cross the border? Canada wants to know.," 27 Aug. 2017
There were several family groups of Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice and blue-gray gnatcatchers; flocks that often beckon traveling migrants to join in.

— taylor piephoff, charlotteobserver, "Migrating birds begin to show up in late August," 23 Aug. 2017
The Australians know very well that none of the migrants at issue are security threats.

— matt peterson, The Atlantic, "Even Trump Is Surprised by Australia's Cynical Migrant Policy," 3 Aug. 2017
Germany saw a large influx of migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere in 2015 and early 2016.

— Bloomberg.com, "Germany’s Immigrant Population Hit a New High in 2016," 1 Aug. 2017
Wayward migrants thus wouldn’t manage to spread the gene widely outside the intended area.

— kelly servick, Science | AAAS, "How will we keep controversial gene drive technology in check?," 19 July 2017
Bill Gates, whose philanthropy has contributed to that growth, called for turning back boats of would-be migrants in the Mediterranean and said the influx to Germany is unsustainable.

— michael barone, National Review, "Anti-Trump Overreach Could Backfire," 14 July 2017
In Milan, the Airbnb effort addresses an overflow of migrants to the Northern Italian city.

— cassie shortsleeve, CNT, "Airbnb's Refugee-Friendly 'Open Homes' Program Launches in Italy," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'migrant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of migrant

Latin migrant-, migrans, present participle of migrare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1672

See Words from the same year

migrant Synonyms

Synonyms

émigré (also emigré), immigrant, incomer [chiefly British], in-migrant, emigrant, out-migrant, settler

Antonyms

nonimmigrant

Related Words

defector, deportee, evacuee, exile, expatriate, refugee, relocatee, repatriate; alien, foreigner, illegal, noncitizen, nonnative; colonist, newcomer, squatter; migrator, pilgrim, pioneer, trekker

Near Antonyms

aborigine, native; citizen, habitant, inhabitant, national, resident

MIGRANT Defined for English Language Learners

migrant

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noun

Definition of migrant for English Language Learners

: a person who goes from one place to another especially to find work
: a bird or animal that moves from one area to another at different times of the year