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
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
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 EganThis left him an illegal immigrant in Hong Kong, subject to arrest and repatriation at any time.—Nicholas D. Kristof
Nicholas D. KristofExamples of repatriation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Total repatriations When examining total repatriations — people returned to their country of origin — a more ambiguous picture emerges.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Prairie Island completed their part of the repatriation process with a letter to the Science Museum in January.
—Melissa Olson, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
Prolonged elevated yields are raising questions on whether higher JGB yields will impact domestic appetite to invest abroad, while also sparking a repatriation of capital.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Upon entering the Native North America Gallery, guests will encounter an empty case—recognizing repatriation and honoring Native views about which items are appropriate for display in museums—an essential point of discussion for the Indigenous consulting curators.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
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Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Prairie Island completed their part of the repatriation process with a letter to the Science Museum in January.
—Melissa Olson, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
Prolonged elevated yields are raising questions on whether higher JGB yields will impact domestic appetite to invest abroad, while also sparking a repatriation of capital.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Upon entering the Native North America Gallery, guests will encounter an empty case—recognizing repatriation and honoring Native views about which items are appropriate for display in museums—an essential point of discussion for the Indigenous consulting curators.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repatriation
Cite this Entry
“Repatriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repatriation. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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