repatriate

verb

re·​pa·​tri·​ate (ˌ)rē-ˈpā-trē-ˌāt 

-ˈpa-

repatriated; repatriating

transitive verb

: to restore or return to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship

repatriate prisoners of war

repatriate

(ˌ)rē-ˈpā-trē-ət 

-trē-ˌāt, 

-ˈpa-

noun

Examples of repatriate in a Sentence

Countries are required to repatriate prisoners of war when conflict has ended.

Recent Examples on the Web

These parties’ platforms vary, but both point toward repatriating competences to national governments, weakening European Court of Justice jurisdiction, and loosening the common rules that make EU commitments credible to outside partners. — Jonas Nahm, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026

According to South Africa's latest government figures, almost 90,000 people have either been voluntarily repatriated or have been deported since the migration tensions began. — ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026

The agreement is part of a larger international initiative to repatriate artifacts and human remains acquired by Western institutions during the colonial era. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026

The agreement between the university and the FNR forms part of a wider international movement to repatriate artifacts and human remains acquired by Western institutions during the colonial era. — CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin repatriatus, past participle of repatriare to go home again — more at repair entry 3

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for repatriate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

repatriate

1 of 2 verb

re·​pa·​tri·​ate

(ˈ)rē-ˈpā-trē-ˌāt, 

-ˈpa-

repatriated; repatriating

: to return to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship

repatriate prisoners of war

repatriation

(ˌ)rē-ˌpā-trē-ˈā-shən, 

-ˌpa-

noun

repatriate

2 of 2 noun

re·​pa·​tri·​ate

(ˈ)rē-ˈpā-trē-ət, 

-tre-ˌāt

: one that is repatriated