migration

noun

mi·​gra·​tion mī-ˈgrā-shən 

: the act, process, or an instance of migrating

watched the migration of the birds overhead

migrational

mī-ˈgrā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Examples of migration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Indigenous names for February’s full moon refer to everything from bird migration to food scarcity. —Nathaniel Levine, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026

In Florida, it was driven by international migration, and in Texas by international migration as well as births outpacing deaths. —Mike Schneider, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026

Domestic migration remains a significant drag on growth here, too, with more residents leaving than people coming here from other states. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

Each failure reinforces migration, which in turn shrinks the tax base, accelerating decline. —Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French or Latin; French, from Latin migration-, migratio, from migratus (past participle of migrare to migrate) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at migrate

First Known Use

circa 1527, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing migration

• pre-migration

Rhymes for migration

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

migration

noun

mi·​gra·​tion

mī-ˈgrā-shən

1

: the act or an instance of migrating

2

: a group of individuals that are migrating

Medical Definition

migration

noun

mi·​gra·​tion mī-ˈgrā-shən 

: the act, process, or an instance of migrating

migration of larval nematodes to the lungs