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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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

Example Sentences

Demographers say Cuba is undergoing one of the world’s fastest population declines — a 25% drop in just four years — as birth rates fall and emigration soars.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 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

Social media is feeding into the emigration economy, with dozens of influencers demystifying the process.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

They were all to be paid between $1,000 and $3,000 a month -- a fortune in Kenya where jobs are scarce and the government encourages emigration to boost remittances.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

As far as Desdemona was concerned, death was only another kind of emigration.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides