immigrant
noun
im·mi·grant
ˈi-mə-grənt 
: one that immigrates: such as
a
: a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence
b
: a plant or animal that becomes established in an area where it was previously unknown
immigrant
adjective
Did you know?
immigrant or emigrant?
Both of these words come from the Latin migrare (“to move from one place to another”), and both have definitions in English that hew closely to their etymological roots, but there is a definite difference between how you would use each one. Emigrant is used in reference to the country that has been left (“an emigrant from Canada”), while immigrant is used in reference the country that one is destined for (“an immigrant to Spain”).
Examples of immigrant in a Sentence
Millions of immigrants came to America from Europe in the 19th century.
The city has a large immigrant population.
Recent Examples on the Web
Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquival, who ICE has identified as a Salvadoran undocumented immigrant, was in the passenger seat with Sousa-Martins.
—
Dennis Valera, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
The leaf may also have come to America via Southeast Asian immigrants, who used and sold the plant within their communities.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
Ngo grew up the child of ethnic Chinese immigrants from Vietnam.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 28 Dec. 2025
In the most recent lottery, Cuban citizens were excluded because of the high number of Cuban immigrants admitted under other programs during the Biden administration.
—Maykel Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for immigrant
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Dennis Valera, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
The leaf may also have come to America via Southeast Asian immigrants, who used and sold the plant within their communities.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
Ngo grew up the child of ethnic Chinese immigrants from Vietnam.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 28 Dec. 2025
In the most recent lottery, Cuban citizens were excluded because of the high number of Cuban immigrants admitted under other programs during the Biden administration.
—Maykel Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for immigrant
Cite this Entry
“Immigrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immigrant. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
immigrant
noun
im·mi·grant
ˈim-i-grənt
1
: a person who comes to a country to live there
2
: a plant or animal that becomes established in an area where it did not occur previously
immigrant
adjective
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