emigrant
B2Formal, Neutral, Historical
Definition
Meaning
A person who leaves their own country in order to settle permanently in another.
A person who moves from one region to another within a country, especially for economic reasons. Historically, can refer to groups of people leaving en masse.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is often used in historical, statistical, and formal contexts. It is relational and implies a point of origin. The person is described as an emigrant *from* a country and an immigrant *to* another country.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage frequency is similar, though the term is more common in historical contexts (e.g., 19th-century European emigrants to the US).
Connotations
Neutral in both, though can carry historical weight. In modern UK context, may be used for Britons moving abroad (e.g., 'British emigrants to Spain'). In US, often associated with historical narratives of arrival.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English when discussing citizens leaving the country. In US English, 'immigrant' is far more common in public discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
emigrant from [country/region]emigrant to [country/region]emigrant who [verb]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific common idiom for 'emigrant'. Related: 'vote with your feet', 'seek a better life', 'brain drain' (for skilled emigrants).]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in reports on 'emigrant remittances' or 'skilled emigrant outflow' affecting a labour market.
Academic
Common in demographics, history, and sociology to describe populations leaving an area. Used in models of migration flows.
Everyday
Used when discussing someone who has moved away from their home country, often in a narrative or biographical context.
Technical
Used in official statistics and migration studies to categorise individuals by their country of departure.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The family decided to emigrate to Australia.
- Many skilled workers are emigrating due to the economic climate.
American English
- Her grandparents emigrated from Italy in the 1920s.
- The new policy may cause more people to emigrate.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. Use 'as an emigrant' or 'emigrating'.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form. Use 'as an emigrant' or 'emigrating'.]
adjective
British English
- The emigrant experience was documented in letters home.
- Emigrant remittances are vital to the country's economy.
American English
- She studied 19th-century emigrant trails westward.
- The emigrant community established a support network.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle is an emigrant. He lives in Canada now.
- She was an emigrant from Poland.
- In the 19th century, many Irish emigrants went to the United States.
- The government is concerned about the number of young emigrants leaving the country.
- The novel explores the complex identity of the returning emigrant, who feels like a stranger in both lands.
- Economic instability has triggered a new wave of emigrants from the region.
- The study analyses the socio-economic profiles of recent emigrants and their impact on the domestic labour market.
- As an emigrant herself, the author brings a poignant authenticity to her depiction of diasporic longing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'EXIT migrant' → E-migrant. The 'E' can stand for 'Exit' or 'Exit-Migration'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMIGRANTS ARE WATER (a wave/stream/flood of emigrants), EMIGRANTS ARE PLANTS (uprooted, transplanted).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'иммигрант' (immigrant). The key is direction: эмигрант (уезжает ИЗ), иммигрант (приезжает В).
- The noun 'эмиграция' covers both the process and the collective body of emigrants.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'immigrant' when 'emigrant' is meant (and vice-versa).
- Using 'emigrant' for temporary movement (e.g., a student on a year abroad).
- Omitting the necessary preposition 'from'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'emigrant' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a matter of perspective. An emigrant is someone *leaving* a country (focus on origin). An immigrant is someone *entering* a new country to settle (focus on destination). The same person is both.
No, it is a neutral, factual term. Connotations depend on context. It can be neutral (statistics), positive (seeking opportunity), or negative (causing 'brain drain').
Traditionally, it refers to leaving a country. For internal movement, 'migrant' or more specific terms like 'transplant' or 'relocatee' are preferred, though in disciplines like history (e.g., 'emigrants' on the Oregon Trail) it is used.
The verb is 'to emigrate' (from). The related noun for the process or the collective group is 'emigration'. The person is the 'emigrant'.
Explore