emigration

American  

[em-i-grey-shuhn] / ˌɛm ɪˈgreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of emigrating.

2. a body of emigrants; emigrants collectively.

3. Physiology. diapedesis.

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emigration British  

/ ˌɛmɪˈɡreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of emigrating

2. emigrants considered collectively

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Usage

What does emigration mean? Emigration is the act or occurrence of emigrating—permanently leaving home in one country or region to settle in another. A person who is emigrating or has emigrated can be called an emigrant. Less commonly, emigration can also be used to refer to emigrants collectively. What’s the difference between emigration, immigration, and migration?Migration is the act of moving from one place to another (and perhaps back and forth). Emigration is moving out, while immigration is moving in. For this reason, the word emigration is commonly followed by from and the home country, whereas immigration is commonly followed by to and the destination country. Of course, emigration and immigration are two ways to describe the same process—people who are emigrating are also immigrating (if they leave, they have to go somewhere). But there are good reasons to use each word in different situations. For example, one country may be a common destination for immigration, while another may experience frequent emigration. The words migration and immigration are more likely to be used to describe such relocation in a general way (that is, a way that takes both the starting point and the destination into account), whereas emigration is almost always about the starting point. Example: The lack of employment has caused emigration to increase significantly, with many highly skilled workers leaving the country.

Other Word Forms

• emigrational adjective
• nonemigration noun
• reemigration noun

Etymology

Origin of emigration

1640–50; < Late Latin ēmīgrātiōn- (stem of ēmīgrātiō ) removal. See emigrate, -ion

Explanation

Emigration is when a person leaves his or her home country to live in another country indefinitely. First used in the 1640s, the noun emigration derives from the Late Latin word emigrationem, meaning "removal from a place." Emigration often happens when people leave their native country to seek a better life in another country. For example, maybe your great-grandparents left Ireland to settle in Albany, NY, where they worked for the railroad. Remember that emigration refers to leaving a country. Immigration refers to entering a new country.

Example Sentences

Some people say they've resorted to fibbing about illnesses, emigration or even prison sentences so the company will stop trying to keep them signed up.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

As Sandford recounted, the Founders understood that their new nation was, in James Madison’s words, “indebted to emigration for her settlement and prosperity.”

From Slate • Mar. 18, 2026

“A not uncommon greeting among Berlin Jews,” Mr. Buruma writes, was, “how is your emigration coming along?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

But for Varvara, the uncertainty of emigration outweighed the risks of staying.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

In those days it was still possible to buy emigration certificates to Palestine.

From "Night" by Elie Wiesel