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
Robert McCormick AdamsWhile 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
Andrew JacobsThey 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
Timothy EganExamples of repatriation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The congresswoman asked lawmakers to assess the situation and develop a repatriation plan by the end of the day on May 7.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
History, spirituality, and the law collide as tribal repatriation specialists fight to return and rebury Indigenous human remains, revealing the still-pervasive worldviews that justified their collection in the first place.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2026
His body was taken off the vessel nearly two weeks later on the British territory of Saint Helena, some 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) off the African coast, and was awaiting repatriation.
—ABC News, 4 May 2026
His body was taken off the vessel nearly two weeks later on the British territory of Saint Helena, some 1,200 miles off the African coast, and was awaiting repatriation.
—Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for repatriation
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Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
History, spirituality, and the law collide as tribal repatriation specialists fight to return and rebury Indigenous human remains, revealing the still-pervasive worldviews that justified their collection in the first place.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2026
His body was taken off the vessel nearly two weeks later on the British territory of Saint Helena, some 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) off the African coast, and was awaiting repatriation.
—ABC News, 4 May 2026
His body was taken off the vessel nearly two weeks later on the British territory of Saint Helena, some 1,200 miles off the African coast, and was awaiting repatriation.
—Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for repatriation
Cite this Entry
“Repatriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repatriation. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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