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

Congress didn’t pass the first modern immigration law until 1875, and for much of history migrants “could freely enter the United States and take up permanent residence,” the government says.

From The Wall Street Journal

A week ago he admitted there were “real failures” in the immigration and criminal-justice systems that led to this murder.

From The Wall Street Journal

Desai said, as seeming moments of recovery in the past year or so were squashed by the L.A. wildfires, then last summer’s immigration crackdown and associated civil unrest.

From Los Angeles Times

Protesters said they are motivated by contentious immigration enforcement actions and the war in Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal

One of Scotland's most high-profile gangland figures has been paraded by police in Bali after being arrested at an airport immigration checkpoint.

From BBC

Related Words

• exodus
• migration
• travel