immigrant

[im-i-gruhnt]

noun

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

2. an organism found in a new habitat.

adjective

1. of or relating to immigrants and immigration.

   a department for immigrant affairs.

2. immigrating.

immigrant

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• nonimmigrant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of immigrant¹

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

Last month, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles announced plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Times has had a staff art critic for a hundred years, ever since the 1926 appointment of British immigrant and painter Arthur Millier, who wrote in these pages for 32 years.

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R.V. is among what immigration attorneys describe as an escalating trend: some immigrants who win protection from deportation to their home countries are being detained indefinitely.

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Domestic service was the largest urban occupation at midcentury, dominated by Irish immigrant women who received room and board and could save significant amounts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I grew up as an immigrant kid. ... I know what it is like to be on the other side of the bully,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times