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

See Examples For:

migration migrations

But that prospect could prove difficult in the countries where migration is already a highly sensitive topic.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

This wouldn’t be the first time that an era of mass global migration has ended.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

“I’m surprised to see the fear that governments and society have regarding migration today. It’s one of the best things that can happen to a culture,” Eimbcke says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1 percent, likely a result of falling labor supply as the US economy grapples with an aging population and lower net migration.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

You see, the geese were about to leave on their winter migration.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Critics fear deep-sea mining will cause irreversible damage, smothering marine life in plumes of waste and disrupting oceanic migrations with the thrum of heavy machinery.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Since the indexes are weighted by market cap, migrations prevent large companies from dramatically skewing the performance of indexes meant for smaller companies.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026

Some of the longest and most essential animal migrations on Earth take place beneath the surface of rivers.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026

Most species will cross country borders on their mammoth migrations.

From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026

I want to take care of the ocean, so the whales can keep making their long migrations safely.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

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