migrant

[mahy-gruhnt]

adjective

1. migrating, especially of people; migratory.

noun

1. a person or animal that migrates.

2. a person who attempts to permanently relocate to a new country, but who may be subject to removal by the government of that country: unaccompanied child migrants.

   undocumented migrants;

   unaccompanied child migrants.

3. Also called migrant worker. a person who moves from place to place to get work, especially a farm laborer who harvests crops seasonally.

migrant

/ ˈmaɪɡrənt /

noun

1. a person or animal that moves from one region, place, or country to another

2. an itinerant agricultural worker who travels from one district to another

3. 1. an immigrant, esp a recent one

   2. ( as modifier )

      a migrant hostel

adjective

1. moving from one region, place, or country to another; migratory

Other Word Forms

• nonmigrant adjective
• unmigrant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of migrant¹

1665–75; < Latin migrant- (stem of migrāns ), present participle of migrāre. See migrate, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of migrant¹

C17: from Latin migrāre to change one's abode

Example Sentences

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, many of them masked, are running traffic checkpoints and bashing in car windows with batons in their search for migrants.

From Salon

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has shifted on his pledge to stop migrants arriving on small boats within two weeks of entering government if they win power.

From BBC

The TPS program was established by Congress in 1990 to give temporary protections for migrants from countries experiencing war and natural disasters.

From BBC

The president also campaigned on cracking down on illegal immigration, telling supporters he believed migrants were stealing jobs from Americans.

From BBC

He revealed he was planning to have lunch with the Albanian prime minister to discuss possible migrant returns agreements.

From BBC

Related Words

• emigrant 
• evacuee 
• expatriate 
• immigrant 
• traveler