expatriate

[eks-pey-tree-eyt, -pa-tree-, eks-pey-tree-it, -eyt, -pa-tree-]

verb (used with object)

expatriated, expatriating 

1. to banish (a person) from their native country.

2. to withdraw (oneself ) from residence in one's native country.

3. to withdraw (oneself ) from allegiance to one's country.

verb (used without object)

expatriated, expatriating 

1. to become an expatriate.

   He expatriated from his homeland.

adjective

1. expatriated; exiled.

noun

1. an expatriated person.

   Many American writers were living as expatriates in Paris.

expatriate

adjective

1. resident in a foreign country

2. exiled or banished from one's native country

   an expatriate American

noun

1. a person who lives in a foreign country

2. an exile; expatriate person

verb

1. to exile (oneself) from one's native country or cause (another) to go into exile

2. to deprive (oneself or another) of citizenship

Other Word Forms

• expatriation noun
• self-expatriation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of expatriate¹

First recorded in 1760–70; from Medieval Latin expatriātus (past participle of expatriāre “to banish”), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + patri(a) “native land” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of expatriate¹

C18: from Medieval Latin expatriāre, from Latin _ex- ¹ + patria native land

Example Sentences

Perched in his art-filled château in the south of France, the British expatriate spent years hurling invectives at, falling out with or blatantly undermining an astonishing number of people.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 1941, Hemingway sat feet away, entertaining war correspondents, expatriates, and political notables.

Read more on Salon

Then there’s the lonely, disaffected expatriate bachelor on the hunt for a quiet, traditional wife.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Our main classroom teachers are expatriates, but 90% of the staff are local," says Mr Todd.

Read more on BBC

Many Venezuelan expatriates in the US - particularly South Florida - have been broadly supportive of Trump, who has taken a tough stance on the left-wing government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro which many of them fled.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• emigrant 
• expat 
• émigré 

When To Use

What does expatriate mean?

An expatriate is 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 people who have been forced to live in another country (such as due to having been exiled or banished), but it most commonly refers to people who have chosen to relocate to work in the new country or to retire there. Expatriates 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 expatriate sounds like it has just about the same meaning as the word immigrant, that’s because it does. But expatriate 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 expatriate is especially applied to Westerners and used by them to refer to themselves. A common and informal short form is expat. The act or process of becoming an expatriate is called expatriation.The word expatriate is commonly preceded by the person’s original nationality, as in an American expatriate in Paris. Expatriate can also be used as a verb meaning to withdraw one’s residence in or allegiance to their native country, or to banish a citizen. When expatriate is used as a verb, the last syllable is pronounced like ate [ eyt ].Expatriate can also be used as an adjective describing a person who has become an expatriate or a person who has been exiled.Example: The city has such a large community of British expatriates that there are multiple pubs that serve as popular social spots for them.