repatriation

American  

[ree-pey-tree-ey-shuhn] / riˌpeɪ triˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of returning a person or thing to the country of origin.

   If conditions allow, refugees can be offered the option of voluntary repatriation rather than resettlement in countries offering asylum.

   Museums are increasingly facing pressure from formerly colonized countries seeking repatriation of their priceless antiquities.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonrepatriation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of repatriation

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin repatriation-, stem of repatriatio “a returning to one's fatherland,” equivalent to repatriāt-, stem of repatriāre + Latin -iō -ion ( def. ); repatriate ( def. )

Explanation

Repatriation is the act of returning to your own country. If you’ve been living in another country since you were two, and you are now thirty-five, repatriation may be more complicated. In Latin, the prefix re- signifies a return of some kind, and patria is another way of saying a person's native land. Repatriation generally refers to a person who has either forcibly or voluntarily left his own country and is now returning. It can also refer to the return of important objects, like historical artifacts, to their country of origin. If you're a patriotic person, then repatriation is important to you, especially for significant people or objects!

Example Sentences

Local police told the BBC the two older men have been taken into the custody of the Canadian Border Agency for repatriation.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Ghana has already flown home 300 of its citizens, with hundreds more due to leave this weekend, and Nigeria has also announced emergency repatriation flights.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

Sixteen passengers from the U.S. boarded a medical repatriation flight arranged by the federal government to Nebraska and remained there as of Monday, including one person who tested “mildly” positive for hantavirus.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

While the Iran conflict will weigh on the rupee, slowing profit repatriation, central bank intervention and India’s robust long-term prospects will limit the pace of depreciation, BMI said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

When the day of my repatriation finally came, I packed my few belongings in a plastic bag.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

Related Words

• reconstruction
• recovery
• refurbishment
• rehabilitation
• reinstatement
• renewal
• renovation
• revival