immigration

American  

[im-i-grey-shuhn] / ˌɪm ɪˈgreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of immigrating.

2. a group or number of immigrants.

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immigration British  

/ ˌɪmɪˈɡreɪʃən /

noun

1. the movement of non-native people into a country in order to settle there

2. the part of a port, airport, etc where government employees examine the passports, visas, etc of foreign nationals entering the country

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Other Word Forms

• anti-immigration adjective
• immigrational adjective
• immigratory adjective
• nonimmigration noun
• preimmigration noun
• proimmigration adjective

Etymology

Origin of immigration

First recorded in 1650–60; im- ¹ + migration

Example Sentences

If state and local officials mean what they say about the rule of law, they will draw the line there and provide protective support—even if they disagree with national immigration policy.

From The Wall Street Journal

The departures could decimate an office already struggling to deal with the surge in immigration enforcement, said B. Todd Jones, a former U.S. attorney for Minnesota.

From The Wall Street Journal

There is also a Home Office online scheme which verifies the status of some non-British or Irish citizens, whose immigration status is held electronically.

From BBC

Meanwhile, domestic tensions in the US have intensified after Renee Good, 37, was shot dead by an immigration agent in Minneapolis last week, triggering large protests in the city.

From BBC

The department says the deployment is necessary to combat illegal immigration and crime.

From BBC

Related Words

• exodus
• migration
• travel