adjective
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of, relating to, or characterized by migration
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nomadic; itinerant
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of migratory
Explanation
Animals that change locations with the seasons are said to be migratory. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are migratory. They spend winter in the warmer climate of Mexico, Central, and South America and then return to the eastern United States in the spring. People who move from place to place in search of work are said to be migratory. The adjective is often used in combination with the noun workers. In the United States, migratory workers travel from state to state to help bring in the harvest, often with whole families traveling together. After a cold winter, you might want to be a bit migratory yourself: you could move south to Florida in the winter and return north to Ottawa each spring.
Vocabulary lists containing migratory
Awkward
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World Without Fish
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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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.
“The biggest emotion for me has to be grief, but specifically migratory grief,” Mora said.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
The pink migratory birds became the symbol of Albania's nightly rallies because they flock to Narta Lagoon, a protected area near the coastal city of Vlora.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
The discovery involves the Ijima's Leaf Warbler, a rare migratory bird found only on two island groups in Japan.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
The Kushner-backed resort, along with another development on nearby Sazan Island, are both planned near a key breeding site for migratory birds -- including hundreds of flamingos.
From Barron's ● Jun. 20, 2026
They could have attached it to some migratory bird, and Dr. Cable would be on her way to South America instead of in the library overseeing the destruction of the Smoke.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
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.
