immigrant
C1 (Very High Frequency)Neutral to Formal. Common in news, academic, legal, and administrative contexts. Can be informal in everyday conversation.
Definition
Meaning
A person who comes to a foreign country with the intention of settling there permanently.
The term can also refer broadly to someone who has moved to a different country, regardless of their current legal status or permanence, and is often used in demographic, social, and political contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Focuses on the act of entering and settling. Contrasts with 'emigrant' (person leaving a country) and is a subset of 'migrant' (person moving, not necessarily permanent).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Both use 'immigrant'. The related verb is 'immigrate' in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, the term is neutral but can acquire positive or negative connotations based on political and media discourse.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties due to shared global socio-political issues.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[immigrant + from + country][immigrant + to + country][immigrant + in + country]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly with 'immigrant'. Often part of set phrases like 'immigrant experience' or 'dream of the immigrant']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in HR and diversity contexts, e.g., 'hiring skilled immigrants'.
Academic
Used in sociology, demographics, political science, e.g., 'studying second-generation immigrant assimilation'.
Everyday
Used in personal stories and news, e.g., 'My grandparents were immigrants.'
Technical
Used in legal and immigration policy, e.g., 'permanent resident immigrant visa'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The immigrant communities in London are very diverse.
- She comes from an immigrant background.
American English
- Immigrant rights are a key political issue.
- The city has a large immigrant population.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She is an immigrant from Poland.
- Many immigrants live in this city.
- My father was an immigrant who came here for a better job.
- The government has a policy for legal immigrants.
- The debate centred on the economic impact of illegal immigrants.
- First-generation immigrants often face significant linguistic challenges.
- The sociological study analysed the integration patterns of second-generation immigrants.
- Policymakers are grappling with the complexities of the immigrant vetting process.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I'M Moving In GRANTed' – I am moving into a new country, granted permission to stay.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMIGRANTS ARE A FLOW/WAVE (e.g., 'wave of immigrants'), IMMIGRANTS ARE ROOTS (e.g., 'immigrant roots').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'иммигрант' when referring to temporary labour migrants; the Russian word often implies permanent resettlement.
- Do not confuse with 'мигрант' (migrant), which is broader in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'immigrant' for someone temporarily working/studying abroad (use 'expatriate', 'migrant worker', 'international student').
- Confusing 'immigrant' (incoming) with 'emigrant' (outgoing).
Practice
Quiz
Which term specifically refers to a person who leaves their country to settle in another?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An 'immigrant' specifically settles in a new country permanently or long-term. A 'migrant' is a broader term for anyone who moves, including within a country or temporarily.
No, it is a neutral, factual term. Its connotation depends entirely on context and tone. In formal and statistical contexts, it carries no inherent negative meaning.
No. By definition, an immigrant moves between countries. Moving within a country makes you an internal migrant.
The related verb is 'immigrate' (to come into a country). The process is 'immigration'. The person is the 'immigrant'.