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”).

Synonyms of immigrant

• migrant
• emigrant
• settler
• refugee

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

She was raised in Marin County, the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants. —Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

There are a few fights on the horizon as the federal government is challenging California’s ability to protect trans student-athletes against discrimination, set its own climate emission standards, and grant trucking licenses to immigrants. —Lia Russell may 3, Sacbee.com, 3 May 2026

In interviews, Esusu’s co-founder, Wemimo Abbey, often references his mother, an immigrant who works multiple jobs including occasional gig work, as an example of the company’s target customer. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 3 May 2026

Reasons for the decline The statewide figures correlate to declining birth rates nationwide, although other factors are in play locally, including in Los Angeles County, such as housing costs, a decline in immigration and aggressive federal efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing immigrant

• anti-immigrant

Rhymes for immigrant

• nonimmigrant

Kids 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