repatriation

noun

re·​pa·​tri·​a·​tion (ˌ)rē-ˌpā-trē-ˈā-shən 

-ˌpa-

plural repatriations

: the act or process of restoring or returning someone or something to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship : the act of repatriating or the state of being repatriated

… rising demands for the repatriation of skeletons and sacred objects, now widely scattered in the world's museums, and for museum exhibits less devoted to static, stereotypical displays of … the native American culture.

—Robert McCormick Adams

While officials privately acknowledge there is scant legal basis for repatriation, their public statements suggest that they would use lawsuits, diplomatic pressure and shame to bring home looted objects—not unlike Italy, Greece and Egypt, which have sought, with some success, to recover antiquities in European and American museums.

—Andrew Jacobs

They say they have that right under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which requires that human remains and artifacts be returned to Indian tribes that can show a cultural link.

—Timothy Egan

Examples of repatriation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ghanaian authorities said the repatriation effort was being carried out in coordination with South African officials after concerns over the safety and well-being of migrants. —Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026

How was the evacuation process and repatriation in Nebraska? —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 19 May 2026

In Australia, this kind of repatriation is called a return to Country. —ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026

With Key and Collington now accounted for, the search efforts have been concluded and the focus has turned to recovery and repatriation, the Army said. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for repatriation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation