relocation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Business, Academic
Quick answer
What does “relocation” mean?
The act or process of moving to a new place to live or work.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act or process of moving to a new place to live or work.
The process of moving a business, operation, or group of people to a new site; the state of having been moved.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Relocation package' is a common collocation in both. Spelling follows standard patterns (e.g., 'relocation' vs. no variant).
Connotations
Neutral in both, associated with corporate moves, immigration, or post-disaster resettlement.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American business/HR contexts, but common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “relocation” in a Sentence
relocation of [NP] (e.g., relocation of the headquarters)relocation to [NP] (e.g., relocation to Berlin)relocation from [NP] (e.g., relocation from London)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “relocation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm will relocate its manufacturing to Wales.
- We had to relocate due to flooding.
American English
- The company is relocating its headquarters to Texas.
- She relocated for a better job opportunity.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. Use 'as part of the relocation' or similar.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form. Use 'in relocating' or similar.]
adjective
British English
- The relocation package included school-finding services.
- They faced relocation expenses.
American English
- He received a relocation bonus to cover moving costs.
- The relocation policy was very generous.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the corporate process of moving employees or offices, often with financial support.
Academic
Used in human geography, sociology, and business studies to discuss population or capital movement.
Everyday
Used when discussing moving house, especially for a job or to a different country.
Technical
In IT, can refer to moving data or services to a new server or cloud provider (e.g., 'data centre relocation').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “relocation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “relocation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “relocation”
- Using 'relocation' for a short-term move (e.g., a holiday).
- Confusing 'relocation' (process) with 'new location' (the place itself).
- Misspelling as 'relocation' (double 'l').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While often used for significant moves (e.g., abroad, for a job), it can be used for any substantial move to a new home or office, even within the same country or city.
'Moving' is the general, everyday term. 'Relocating' is more formal and often implies a more permanent, planned, and significant move, frequently for work or lifestyle reasons.
The verb is 'relocate'. 'Relocation' is the noun form describing the process or instance of relocating.
It is neutral. The connotation depends on context: a 'relocation package' is positive, 'forced relocation' is negative.
The act or process of moving to a new place to live or work.
Relocation is usually formal, business, academic in register.
Relocation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːləʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriːloʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with 'relocation'. The concept is expressed directly.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-LOCATION. You are finding a RE-newed LOCATION for yourself or your business.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / CHANGE IS MOTION. Relocation is a significant, purposeful leg of that journey.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'relocation' LEAST likely to be used?