immigration
Americannoun
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the movement of non-native people into a country in order to settle there
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the part of a port, airport, etc where government employees examine the passports, visas, etc of foreign nationals entering the country
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of immigration
Explanation
Immigration is the process of moving to a new country to stay. New York's Ellis Island was considered a gateway for European immigration to the United States during the early 1900's. Nowadays, people immigrate through airports instead of islands. The word migration is in immigration, which is something we think of birds doing when they fly South for the winter. It's not an accident — if American birds had little passports, they'd have to go through immigration when they got to Mexico. When humans immigrate, they have to follow the rules of the new country or else they risk getting in trouble. Immigration is the act of going to a new country, while emigration refers to the process of leaving one.
Vocabulary lists containing immigration
Human Geography - Middle School
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The United States
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Human Geography - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two policies stand out as exceptions, with 81% of respondents in favor of cracking down on human traffickers and 61% supporting the government limiting immigration from countries it deems dangerous.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
Two people have been arrested in connection with a BBC undercover investigation into immigration advisers helping some asylum seekers pretend to be gay to stay in the country.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
The working-age population is barely growing due to an aging labor force and strict immigration controls.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
But in recent months, authorities have announced charges against several police and immigration officials accused of involvement with cyberscams.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
"Why don't you talk to an immigration lawyer?" my mother said Auntie Seema asked her more than once.
From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
