repatriate

[ree-pey-tree-eyt, ree-pey-tree-it]

verb (used with object)

repatriated, repatriating 

1. to bring or send back (a person, especially a prisoner of war, a refugee, etc.) to their country or land of citizenship.

2. to send (profits or other assets) back to one's own country.

3. 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)

repatriated, repatriating 

1. to return to one's own country.

   to repatriate after 20 years abroad.

noun

1. a person who has been repatriated.

repatriate

verb

1. to send back (a refugee, prisoner of war, etc) to the country of his birth or citizenship

2. to send back (a sum of money previously invested abroad) to its country of origin

noun

1. a person who has been repatriated

Other Word Forms

• repatriation noun
• repatriable adjective
• nonrepatriable adjective
• unrepatriated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of repatriate¹

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; re-, father, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of repatriate¹

C17: from Late Latin repatriāre from Latin _re- + patria fatherland; compare _repair ²

Example Sentences

"The Indian authorities went back to look for further remains and they, I understand, did find some further remains which were later then repatriated to London and are being examined by the coroner," he said.

From BBC

Lawyers for the US justice department said the children were not being deported, but rather repatriated so they could be reunited with family.

From BBC

"This brings the total repatriated convicted foreign nationals to 102 in the ongoing exercise," it said, adding they had been found guilty of "cyberterrorism and internet fraud".

From BBC

Peru’s foreign ministry confirmed Saturday via social media that it had repatriated the children back to Los Angeles via Mexico City to be reunited with their mother’s family.

From Los Angeles Times

The body has not yet been repatriated to Zambia because the Lungu family is appealing against the South African judge's decision – a case that is due to be heard on Friday.

From BBC