migration

American  

[mahy-grey-shuhn] / maɪˈgreɪ ʃən /

noun

migrations plural

1. the process or act of migrating.

2. a migratory movement.

   preparations for the migration.

3. a number or body of persons or animals migrating together.

4. Chemistry. a movement or change of position of atoms within a molecule.

5. Physics. diffusion.

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migration British  

/ maɪˈɡreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of migrating

2. a group of people, birds, etc, migrating in a body

3. chem a movement of atoms, ions, or molecules, such as the motion of ions in solution under the influence of electric fields

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migration Scientific  

/ mī-grā′shən /

1. The seasonal movement of a complete population of animals from one area to another. Migration is usually a response to changes in temperature, food supply, or the amount of daylight, and is often undertaken for the purpose of breeding. Mammals, insects, fish, and birds all migrate. The precise mechanism of navigation during migration is not fully understood, although for birds it is believed that sharp eyesight, sensibility to the Earth's magnetic field, and the positions of the Sun and other stars may play a role.

2. The movement of one atom or more, or of a double bond, from one position to another within a molecule.

3. The movement of ions between electrodes during electrolysis.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonmigration
  noun
• remigration
  noun
• migrational
  adjective
• premigration
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• migrations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of migration

First recorded in 1605–15, migration is from the Latin word migrātīon- (stem of migrātiō ). See migrate, -ion

Explanation

Migration is the movement of either people or animals from one area to another. Look up in the trees, where you might see a Monarch butterfly make a stop on its migration to Mexico. Migration can be used for the journey from one place to another or for the act of movement. Thousands of mid-western farmers made the migration to California during the dust bowl. Demographers have noted the migration of young people to the big cities presumably for work. With animals, it’s almost always in reference to a seasonal change in location. On boat tours, you can see the whales during their annual migration down the West coast.

Example Sentences

A separate protest against Indian migration to Australia is also planned.

From Barron's • Jul. 8, 2026

Mr. Higham highlights the considerable migration from northwest Europe to eastern England following the collapse of Roman power.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026

South Africa's justice minister accused Ghana of spreading "false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration".

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026

The Central Mediterranean crossing from north Africa is the deadliest migration route in the world, according to the International Organization for Migration.

From Barron's • Jul. 4, 2026

Indeed, the spread of jazz into northern and Midwestern cities had coincided with the massively increased availability of wartime factory work, which had encouraged mass black migration in the same direction.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• exodus
• flight
• journey
• movement
• shift
• transfer