immigrant

American  

[im-i-gruhnt] / ˈɪm ɪ grənt /

noun

1. a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.

2. an organism found in a new habitat.

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adjective

1. of or relating to immigrants and immigration.

   a department for immigrant affairs.

2. immigrating.

immigrant British  

/ ˈɪmɪɡrənt /

noun

1. 1. a person who comes to a country in order to settle there Compare emigrant

   2. ( as modifier )

      an immigrant community

2. an animal or plant that lives or grows in a region to which it has recently migrated

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Other Word Forms

• nonimmigrant noun

Etymology

Origin of immigrant

An Americanism first recorded in 1780–90; from Latin immigrant-, stem of immigrāns “moving into,” present participle of immigrāre “to move into”; equivalent to im- ¹ + migrant

Example Sentences

By the end of 2025, its members launched the Fuerza Music Foundation in an effort to build lasting social change in immigrant communities.

From Los Angeles Times

California lawmakers and immigrant rights groups condemned the killing of the woman, who was identified by family as Renee Nicole Good, a wife and mother of three.

From Los Angeles Times

The child of Nigerian immigrants, he paints a bleak picture of the south London borough.

From BBC

His message throughout his campaign centered on his humble roots as the son of Mexican immigrants with a third-grade education.

From Los Angeles Times

The standoff between Newsom and Duffy began in June when Duffy carried out a nationwide audit into state programs that issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants who were authorized to work in the country.

From Los Angeles Times