plural migrants
: someone or something that migrates: such as
a
: a person who moves regularly in order to find work especially in harvesting crops
farms employing migrants during the growing season
b
: immigrant sense a
especially
: refugee
… administration officials announced they would work to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border … and penalize people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally through another country on their way to the U.S. border. —
Colleen Long
Colleen Long
c
: an animal (such as a gray whale, monarch butterfly, leatherback sea turtle, or Canada goose) that moves usually long distances from one habitat or geographic region to another
migrant
adjective
migrant labor
migrant birds
Examples of migrant in a Sentence
migrants in search of work on farms
Not all birds are migrants.
Recent Examples on the Web
Advocates say the right to request asylum is enshrined in the country’s immigration law and say denying migrants that right puts people fleeing war or persecution in grave danger.
—Michael Kunzelman, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Human rights advocates argue that policing alone won’t stop desperate migrants from risking dangerous small boats, as at least 162 people have died attempting the Channel crossing in recent years.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The route between North Africa and Spain is one of several commonly used by migrants seeking to reach Europe, often involving overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Their shores have received merchants, soldiers and migrants moving between East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent.
—Adam Pourahmadi, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for migrant
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Michael Kunzelman, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Human rights advocates argue that policing alone won’t stop desperate migrants from risking dangerous small boats, as at least 162 people have died attempting the Channel crossing in recent years.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The route between North Africa and Spain is one of several commonly used by migrants seeking to reach Europe, often involving overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Their shores have received merchants, soldiers and migrants moving between East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent.
—Adam Pourahmadi, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for migrant
Cite this Entry
“Migrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/migrant. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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