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

French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said Tuesday that the woman, infected with Andes virus, was one of five French nationals repatriated from the ship. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 13 May 2026

Five Australians and one New Zealander are in the Netherlands and set to be repatriated later this week, according to authorities. —Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 12 May 2026

All passengers on board the ship were screened for symptoms before being repatriated on special flights to their home countries, including 18 Americans who returned to the US, health officials said. —Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026

In a press briefing in Omaha on Monday morning, federal and Nebraska officials corrected the HHS statement, saying that the US has repatriated 18—not 17—people, which includes 17 US citizens and one person who is a dual British/US citizen. —Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 May 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