migrant

noun

mi·​grant ˈmī-grənt 

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

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

Synonyms of migrant

• immigrant
• refugee
• settler
• emigrant

Examples of migrant in a Sentence

migrants in search of work on farms

Not all birds are migrants.

Recent Examples on the Web

Any migrants stranded on the island have to be picked up by boat crews, oftentimes having to jump into the water. — Pedro Portal, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026

But, beyond promises to cut benefits for migrants and foreigners, the AfD’s economic program is far from populist; the Party wants to slash corporate taxes and abolish inheritance and wealth taxes. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2026

Prevost also promoted this commission to assist migrants and combat human trafficking. — Claudia Rebaza, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026

Last year, Miller said the White House was exploring ways to expand its legal power to deport undocumented migrants, including by suspending habeas corpus. — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin migrant-, migrans, present participle of migrare

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing migrant

• in-migrant
• out-migrant

Kids Definition

migrant

noun

mi·​grant ˈmī-grənt 

: a person, animal, or plant that migrates

migrant adjective