immigrant

American  

[im-i-gruhnt] / ˈɪm ɪ grənt /

noun

1. a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.

2. an organism found in a new habitat.

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adjective

1. of or relating to immigrants and immigration.

   a department for immigrant affairs.

2. immigrating.

immigrant British  

/ ˈɪmɪɡrənt /

noun

1. 1. a person who comes to a country in order to settle there Compare emigrant

   2. ( as modifier )

      an immigrant community

2. an animal or plant that lives or grows in a region to which it has recently migrated

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Other Word Forms

• nonimmigrant noun

Etymology

Origin of immigrant

An Americanism first recorded in 1780–90; from Latin immigrant-, stem of immigrāns “moving into,” present participle of immigrāre “to move into”; equivalent to im- ¹ + migrant

Example Sentences

Since the Islamic revolution of 1979, Iran has witnessed multiple waves of middle-class exodus, where Iranian immigrants moved to the U.S to escape economic collapse and persecution.

From Los Angeles Times

The following month, federal immigration agents escalated their operations at Home Depots — including using a Penske rental truck as a “Trojan Horse” in L.A. to catch immigrant workers off guard.

From Los Angeles Times

But the prime minister faces a tough act balancing an ageing society reluctant to receive immigrants and an economy that would not sustain without them.

From BBC

That means it can disqualify some immigrants with valid work permits.

From The Wall Street Journal

His parents were both Jewish—his father born in London to Russian immigrants; his mother in Berlin, escaping to England in 1939 at 19.

From The Wall Street Journal