chain migration: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Political/Policy
Quick answer
What does “chain migration” mean?
A process of migration in which prospective migrants gain information and financial assistance from previous migrants, typically relatives or people from the same community, leading to a sequential pattern of settlement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A process of migration in which prospective migrants gain information and financial assistance from previous migrants, typically relatives or people from the same community, leading to a sequential pattern of settlement.
A socio-demographic pattern where individuals or families migrate to areas where earlier migrants from the same origin community have settled, creating migration networks. In political discourse, the term is often used to describe family-sponsored immigration systems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK policy contexts, 'chain migration' is less frequently used than 'family reunion' or 'family migration'. In the US, it is a standard term in immigration debates.
Connotations
In the US, the term often carries a negative political charge, implying uncontrolled or excessive immigration. In the UK, it is more neutral and technical but becoming influenced by US discourse.
Frequency
Far more frequent in American English, especially in media and political contexts since the mid-2010s.
Grammar
How to Use “chain migration” in a Sentence
Chain migration from [country/region] to [country/region]Chain migration led to the establishment of [community]Policy X aims to curb chain migrationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chain migration” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The community chain-migrated over two decades.
- Families were chain-migrating to the northern cities.
American English
- The policy effectively prevents people from chain migrating.
- They chain-migrated from Central America.
adjective
British English
- The chain-migration process was well documented.
- They studied chain-migration patterns.
American English
- Chain-migration flows increased after the law changed.
- The chain-migration effect is significant.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in HR discussing diaspora talent pools.
Academic
Common in sociology, demography, geography, and migration studies.
Everyday
Uncommon outside political/news discussions.
Technical
Core term in migration studies with a specific methodological meaning regarding migration networks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chain migration”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chain migration”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chain migration”
- Using 'chain migration' to mean any large group migration (it implies a sequential, network-based process).
- Confusing it with 'circular migration' (which involves returning to the origin country).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In neutral academic usage, it is a descriptive, technical term. In political and media discourse, particularly in the US, it often carries a negative connotation, implying a system that allows for potentially unlimited immigration.
'Family reunification' is a legal policy term for allowing family members to join migrants. 'Chain migration' is the broader social science term describing the cumulative network process that such policies can facilitate.
Yes, though less common. Forms like 'chain-migrate' or 'chain migrating' are used, especially in American English.
No, historical examples abound, such as patterns of European migration to the Americas in the 19th and 20th centuries, where settlers from specific towns or regions would sequentially attract others from the same origin.
A process of migration in which prospective migrants gain information and financial assistance from previous migrants, typically relatives or people from the same community, leading to a sequential pattern of settlement.
Chain migration is usually formal, academic, political/policy in register.
Chain migration: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃeɪn maɪˈɡreɪʃn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃeɪn maɪˈɡreɪʃn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHAIN: one link (migrant) connects to and pulls the next link (new migrant) to the same place.
Conceptual Metaphor
MIGRATION IS A CHAIN (a connected series of events/people)
Practice
Quiz
In academic migration studies, 'chain migration' primarily refers to: