emigrate

verb

em·​i·​grate ˈe-mə-ˌgrāt How to pronounce emigrate (audio)
emigrated; emigrating
Synonyms of emigrate

intransitive verb

: to leave one's place of residence or country to live elsewhere
emigrated from Canada to the United States

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an emigrant and an immigrant?

Immigrant and emigrant both refer to a person leaving their own country for another. However, immigrant (and its verb form immigrate) typically stresses the country someone is going to, while emigrant (and its verb emigrate) stresses the country someone is coming from. One is an immigrant to a new country, and an emigrant from an old one. See here for more on the difference between emigrant and immigrant.

Is emigrant a noun or a verb?

Emigrant is a noun, meaning "one who leaves one's place of residence or country to live elsewhere." It is synonymous with émigré, a word that is especially used of a person who has left for political reasons. The verb form of the word is emigrate.

Does emigrant imply illegality?

Both emigrant and immigrant refer to a person who has moved from one country to another, usually in permanent or semi-permanent fashion. Neither word by itself has any connotations of illegality.

Examples of emigrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Juan Suarez Escobar, who was born in Venezuela, had emigrated from Colombia with his family in 2016. — Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have emigrated to Spain in recent years, as the United States has become less welcoming. — Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026 Costco’s Jim Sinegal was the son of Canadian immigrants whose own family had emigrated from Romania. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 1 July 2026 Bajraktarevic’s parents are from Bosnia, left for Switzerland after losing relatives in the war, and then emigrated to the United States in 2001. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for emigrate

Word History

Etymology

Latin emigratus, past participle of emigrare, from e- + migrare to migrate

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emigrate was in 1749

Rhymes for emigrate

See All Rhymes for emigrate

Browse Nearby Words

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See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Emigrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emigrate. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

emigrate

verb
em·​i·​grate ˈem-ə-ˌgrāt How to pronounce emigrate (audio)
emigrated; emigrating
: to leave a country or region to live elsewhere
emigration
ˌem-ə-ˈgrā-shən How to pronounce emigrate (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on emigrate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for emigrate

Nglish: Translation of emigrate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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