repatriate

American  

[ree-pey-tree-eyt, ree-pey-tree-it] / riˈpeɪ triˌeɪt, riˈpeɪ tri ɪt /

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.

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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 British  

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

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noun

1. a person who has been repatriated

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of repatriate

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

Example Sentences

Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” was stolen in 1911 by an Italian employee of the Louvre who wanted to repatriate the masterpiece.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

In the early 1980s, Canada was seeking to repatriate its constitution from the United Kingdom and to incorporate a Charter of Rights and Freedoms, similar to the US Bill of Rights.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

Media reports suggested Washington was pressing Sri Lanka not to repatriate the Iranians.

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

Canberra has refused to repatriate the group, believed to be made up of the wives, widows and children of IS fighters.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

“When they got to Germany, they were going to process papers for us to try to repatriate as well.”

From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys