repatriate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
repatriates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
repatriated,
past participle, past
-
repatriating
present participle
-
to bring or send back (a person, especially a prisoner of war, a refugee, etc.) to their country or land of citizenship.
-
to send (profits or other assets) back to one's own country.
-
to restore to a country that has attained sovereignty something that was formerly held or administered on that country’s behalf by a colonial power.
In 1982, the Trudeau government repatriated Canada's constitution from Britain.
verb (used without object)
-
repatriates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
repatriated,
past participle, past
-
repatriating
present participle
noun
verb
-
to send back (a refugee, prisoner of war, etc) to the country of his birth or citizenship
-
to send back (a sum of money previously invested abroad) to its country of origin
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
repatriatesimple
-
repatriatessimple
-
have repatriatedperfect
-
has repatriatedperfect
-
am repatriatingprogressive
-
are repatriatingprogressive
-
is repatriatingprogressive
-
have been repatriatingperfect progressive
-
has been repatriatingperfect progressive
Past
-
repatriatedsimple
-
had repatriatedperfect
-
was repatriatingprogressive
-
were repatriatingprogressive
-
had been repatriatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of repatriate
First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin repatriātus (past participle of repatriāre “to return to one's fatherland”), equivalent to Latin re- “again, back” + patri(a) “native country” (noun use of feminine of patrius “paternal,” derivative of pater “father”) + -ātus past participle suffix; see re-, father, -ate 1
Explanation
When a country repatriates people, they are usually refugees who are being sent back to their homeland, often against their wishes. It is possible for a person to repatriate himself, choosing to return to a country he's left for political or economic reasons, but the verb repatriate is more often used to mean "send refugees home." It might sound like a modern political term, but repatriate has been used since the 1600s. It comes from the Latin word repatriare, "return to one's own country," from the prefix re, "back," and patria, "native land."
Vocabulary lists containing repatriate
Not Your Father's Word List: Pater, Patr
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Latehomecomer," Vocabulary from the memoir excerpt
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Salt to the Sea
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Police said forensic enquiries would take place to confirm the identity and then efforts would be made to repatriate the body to Bristol.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
TUI had issued a profit warning in April, weeks after the Mideast war forced it to repatriate 10,000 travellers, including 5,000 people stuck on two cruise ships in the Gulf.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
But if Japan were to make substantive changes to how its pension funds invest and repatriate their overseas holdings, the effects would be much more significant and long-lasting.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
But some African governments, including Nigeria, Ghana and Malawi, aren’t willing to rely on promises and have sent planes or buses to South Africa to repatriate their citizens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
“When they got to Germany, they were going to process papers for us to try to repatriate as well.”
From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys
From Agadez, the U.N. migration agency repatriates them to their countries of origin with the financial help of the European Union.
From New York Times ● Jan. 23, 2024
Plus, Robert Egan leaves the vaunted OPC, and the Getty repatriates works, in our weekly arts newsletter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 2, 2024
"India has very robust child protection laws and if the German court repatriates her, she can be looked after in India," she said.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2023
Coast Guard often repatriates people found at sea; it did so earlier this month when it sent back 119 Cuban migrants.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 27, 2022
Then suddenly came the announcement: “Japanese repatriates will begin disembarking beginning with R through V.”
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
The 34-year-old was repatriated to the UK and died on 26 July at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Additionally, the prospect of repatriated capital could bolster the yen, which has seen USD/JPY rise above 163, an exchange rate not seen since 1986.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Nigeria has repatriated around 1,490 nationals, while Ghana has flown home at least 926, according to government figures.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Unlike some tech companies that kept intellectual property in the U.S. or repatriated it after tax-law changes, Microsoft has continued using Ireland as the center of its foreign operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
“Once the Russians are defeated,” he went on, “you will be repatriated through Switzerland.”
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
Releasing updated figures on Tuesday, Zimbabwe's cabinet said 108,366 of its people had come home as of July 18, a majority of them self repatriating.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Last month, Sherritt said it was suspending operations and repatriating staff.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026
Ghanaian authorities are repatriating the first group of 800 citizens they say have registered to be flown home from South Africa on Wednesday morning.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
Sri Lankan officials said they have not begun discussions on repatriating the Bushehr crew and those rescued from Dena, but they will be treated in line with Colombo’s treaty obligations.
From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026
He was either critical of the Nazi Party, critical of me for repatriating, or both.
From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
