migrant

noun

mi·​grant ˈmī-grənt How to pronounce migrant (audio)
plural migrants
Synonyms of migrantnext
: someone or something that migrates: such as
a
: a person who moves regularly in order to find work especially in harvesting crops
farms employing migrants during the growing season
b
: immigrant sense a
especially : refugee
… administration officials announced they would work to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border … and penalize people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally through another country on their way to the U.S. border. Colleen Long
c
: an animal (such as a gray whale, monarch butterfly, leatherback sea turtle, or Canada goose) that moves usually long distances from one habitat or geographic region to another
migrant adjective
migrant labor
migrant birds

Examples of migrant in a Sentence

migrants in search of work on farms Not all birds are migrants.
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.
Hiba had heard that migrants were sometimes subjected to human and organ trafficking in Egypt. Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026 As of Thursday afternoon, ICE had not moved Williams from the Orange County Jail into its custody since his arrest on Saturday, surpassing the 72-hour limit to house migrants as part of the facility’s agreement with federal authorities. Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026 During this period, Vale was charged, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to about five years in prison for smuggling Cuban migrants into the United States. Jay Weaver may 14, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026 The Webb County Medical Examiner's Office is working in close coordination with the Mexican Consulate to contact the migrants' families, confirm the final identity and assist with the repatriation process. Alexandra Koch , Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for migrant

Word History

Etymology

Latin migrant-, migrans, present participle of migrare

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of migrant was in 1760

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Migrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/migrant. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

migrant

noun
mi·​grant ˈmī-grənt How to pronounce migrant (audio)
: a person, animal, or plant that migrates
migrant adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on migrant

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster