immigration

American  

[im-i-grey-shuhn] / ˌɪm ɪˈgreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of immigrating.

2. a group or number of immigrants.

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immigration British  

/ ˌɪmɪˈɡreɪʃən /

noun

1. the movement of non-native people into a country in order to settle there

2. the part of a port, airport, etc where government employees examine the passports, visas, etc of foreign nationals entering the country

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Other Word Forms

• anti-immigration adjective
• immigrational adjective
• immigratory adjective
• nonimmigration noun
• preimmigration noun
• proimmigration adjective

Etymology

Origin of immigration

First recorded in 1650–60; im- ¹ + migration

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.

Example Sentences

Sotomayor was discussing a September 2025 ruling on the court’s emergency docket involving the factors that federal agents can use as a basis to stop people and question them about their immigration status.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

The statute does not discriminate between state and federal officers, an issue that has tripped up other states trying to rein in immigration agents.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

After gathering initial evidence, including tip-offs, we sent undercover reporters to investigate how willing immigration advisers were to help people make up false asylum claims.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

And in late February, jurors convicted two activists on stalking charges after they livestreamed themselves following an immigration agent to his home; the pair were acquitted of conspiracy.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026

But soon enough, our faces tensed again, and we all grumbled as the immigration officers also asked us to pay before we could cross the boundary.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

Related Words

• exodus
• migration
• travel