expatriate

American  

[eks-pey-tree-eyt, -pa-tree-, eks-pey-tree-it, -eyt, -pa-tree-] / ɛksˈpeɪ triˌeɪt, -ˈpæ tri-, ɛksˈpeɪ tri ɪt, -ˌeɪt, -ˈpæ tri- /

verb (used with object)

expatriated, expatriating

1. to banish (a person) from their native country.

2. to withdraw (oneself ) from residence in one's native country.

3. to withdraw (oneself ) from allegiance to one's country.

---

verb (used without object)

expatriated, expatriating

1. to become an expatriate.

   He expatriated from his homeland.

adjective

1. expatriated; exiled.

noun

1. an expatriated person.

   Many American writers were living as expatriates in Paris.

expatriate British  

adjective

1. resident in a foreign country

2. exiled or banished from one's native country

   an expatriate American

---

noun

1. a person who lives in a foreign country

2. an exile; expatriate person

verb

1. to exile (oneself) from one's native country or cause (another) to go into exile

2. to deprive (oneself or another) of citizenship

Usage

What does expatriate mean? An expatriate is a person who has moved from their native country to another country permanently or for an extended period of time.The word expatriate can refer to people who have been forced to live in another country (such as due to having been exiled or banished), but it most commonly refers to people who have chosen to relocate to work in the new country or to retire there. Expatriates may or may not become citizens of the countries they move to, and they may or may not retain their original citizenship.If the word expatriate sounds like it has just about the same meaning as the word immigrant, that’s because it does. But expatriate is used much more narrowly. It can imply (or is at least associated with) a certain amount of wealth and privilege—things not implied by or associated with the word immigrant. The word expatriate is especially applied to Westerners and used by them to refer to themselves. A common and informal short form is expat. The act or process of becoming an expatriate is called expatriation.The word expatriate is commonly preceded by the person’s original nationality, as in an American expatriate in Paris. Expatriate can also be used as a verb meaning to withdraw one’s residence in or allegiance to their native country, or to banish a citizen. When expatriate is used as a verb, the last syllable is pronounced like ate [ eyt ].Expatriate can also be used as an adjective describing a person who has become an expatriate or a person who has been exiled.Example: The city has such a large community of British expatriates that there are multiple pubs that serve as popular social spots for them.

Other Word Forms

• expatriation noun
• self-expatriation noun

Etymology

Origin of expatriate

First recorded in 1760–70; from Medieval Latin expatriātus (past participle of expatriāre “to banish”), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + patri(a) “native land” + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Others live as expatriates from their own community because their houses in the burn zones are still uninhabitable.

From Los Angeles Times

"The number of expatriates in Mali, especially Westerners, can be counted on one hand. There are no mass departures because there aren't many left," the employee said.

From Barron's

She was also expected to press for the early release of Japanese citizens detained in China and request that the safety of Japanese expatriates in China be ensured, the reports said.

From Barron's

He and Jake leave Paris to fish in the Pyrenees and watch bullfights in Pamplona, where tensions among the expatriates explode.

From The Wall Street Journal

The club had been largely an expatriate German club that also had Jewish members.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• emigrant
• expat
• émigré