expat

American  

[eks-peyt] / ɛksˈpeɪt /

noun

Informal.

1. an expatriate.

   a favorite hangout for expats.

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expat British  

/ ˌɛksˈpæt /

noun

1. informal short for expatriate

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Usage

What does expat mean? Expat is short for expatriate—a person who has moved from their native country to another country permanently or for an extended period of time.The word expatriate can refer to a person who has been forced to live in another country (such as due to having been exiled or banished), but it most commonly refers to someone who has chosen to relocate to work in the new country or to retire there. Expats may or may not become citizens of the countries they move to, and they may or may not retain their original citizenship.If the word expat sounds like it has just about the same meaning as the word immigrant, that’s because it does. But expat is used much more narrowly. It can imply (or is at least associated with) a certain amount of wealth and privilege—things not implied by or associated with the word immigrant. The word expat is especially applied to Westerners and used by them to refer to themselves.The word expat is commonly preceded by the person’s original nationality, as in an American expat in Paris. The word expatriate can also be used as a verb and an adjective, but expat is typically used as a noun (though it functions as an adjective in common phrases like expat community).Example: The city has such a large community of British expats that there are multiple pubs that serve as popular social spots for them.

Etymology

Origin of expat

First recorded in 1960–65; by shortening

Example Sentences

"I always dreamt that I'd find out in the early hours of the morning," said the Venezuelan expat, who has been in the US since 2012.

From BBC

Millions of Venezuelan expat communities around the world erupted in celebration.

From The Wall Street Journal

Here was someone else connected to America, she assumed, probably another like-minded dual citizen or expat.

From The Wall Street Journal

We could own a car, ignore senior discounts because “they’re too much trouble,” eat out frequently at overpriced restaurants catering to expats, and load up on expensive imported food and alcohol at the grocery store.

From MarketWatch

With a tepid energy market and Saudi Arabia facing a budget crunch, the kingdom is looking for an influx of funds from foreign visitors and expats to help reduce its fiscal deficit.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• displaced person
• expatriate