repatriate

[ree-pey-tree-eyt, ree-pey-tree-it]

verb (used with object)

repatriated, repatriating 

1. to bring or send back (a person, especially a prisoner of war, a refugee, etc.) to their country or land of citizenship.

2. to send (profits or other assets) back to one's own country.

3. to restore to a country that has attained sovereignty something that was formerly held or administered on that country’s behalf by a colonial power.

   In 1982, the Trudeau government repatriated Canada's constitution from Britain.

verb (used without object)

repatriated, repatriating 

1. to return to one's own country.

   to repatriate after 20 years abroad.

noun

1. a person who has been repatriated.

repatriate

verb

1. to send back (a refugee, prisoner of war, etc) to the country of his birth or citizenship

2. to send back (a sum of money previously invested abroad) to its country of origin

noun

1. a person who has been repatriated

Other Word Forms

• repatriation noun
• repatriable adjective
• nonrepatriable adjective
• unrepatriated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of repatriate¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin repatriātus (past participle of repatriāre “to return to one's fatherland”), equivalent to Latin re- “again, back” + patri(a) “native country” (noun use of feminine of patrius “paternal,” derivative of pater “father”) + -ātus past participle suffix; re-, father, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of repatriate¹

C17: from Late Latin repatriāre from Latin _re- + patria fatherland; compare _repair ²

Example Sentences

In September, Indian officials urged Moscow to release and repatriate 27 Indian nationals who had been recruited into the army.

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But only one has been repatriated so far, the Jamaican Etoria.

Read more on Barron's

The Jamaican has since been repatriated to his country of origin, while another two were expected to be repatriated soon, Eswatini's government says.

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The Jordanian ministry did not answer questions about Hammad, but legal experts say governments have little recourse to repatriate their citizens if they signed a contract, unless they can prove they did so under duress.

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A crowd funder organised by a friend of Ms Bunyan's in the UK has raised almost £17,000 to repatriate her.

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