migration
my-GRAY-shun
/maɪˈɡreɪ.ʃən/
Movement of people or animals from one place or region to another.
Implies seasonal or permanent relocation across administrative boundaries or geographical distances.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'migrare' (to change residence). Originally used in English to describe seasonal bird migrations in the 1600s, it later expanded to describe global human population movements.
Word relationships
- relocation: Relocation focuses on settling into a specific new home, while migration emphasizes the broader movement.
- sedentarism: The practice of staying permanently in one place.
Commonly confused with
- immigration: Immigration specifically means entering a country; migration is general movement between regions.
- emigration: Emigration specifically means leaving a country.
Word family
- migrate (verb): To move from one area to another.
- migrant (noun): A person or animal that moves from place to place.
- migratory (adjective): Relating to or characterized by migration.
Collocations
- mass migration
- net migration
- migration pattern
- seasonal migration
Example sentences
- "Rural-to-urban migration accelerated during the Industrial Revolution as factory jobs multiplied." Economic history
- "The annual migration of monarch butterflies spans thousands of miles across North America." Biology
Memory hook
Migrate = move across the gate. Moving from place to place.
When not to use
Do not use for short daily commutes or brief weekend vacations.
Fun facts
- The Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to Northern cities transformed US culture between 1916 and 1970.
Related words
Explore more words
migrate, immigrate, emigrate, transience, resettlement, immigrant
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