migrant

American  

[mahy-gruhnt] / ˈmaɪ grənt /

adjective

1. migrating, especially of people; migratory.

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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 British  

/ 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

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adjective

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

Other Word Forms

• nonmigrant adjective
• unmigrant adjective

Etymology

Origin of migrant

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

Example Sentences

There’s no doubt the migrant surge burdened some communities.

From The Wall Street Journal

Last month, the first illegal migrants moved into Crowborough training camp in East Sussex.

From BBC

Three African countries have agreed to take back foreign offenders and illegal migrants after the UK Home Secretary threatened them with visa penalties.

From BBC

There was also a widely-held belief that migrants calling from small boats exaggerated the distress, meaning the Coastguard underestimated the emergency.

From BBC

Ministers want to double the time it takes most migrant workers to qualify for permanent residence from five years to 10 years.

From BBC

Related Words

• emigrant
• evacuee
• expatriate
• immigrant
• traveler