migratory
MY-gruh-tor-ee
/ˈmaɪ.ɡrə.tər.i/
Relating to or characterized by regular movement from one region to another.
Can apply to human populations seeking work or animals moving seasonally.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'migratorius', from the verb 'migrare' (to change one's residence). Used in biology and social sciences for centuries to describe seasonal movements.
Word relationships
- nomadic: Nomadic implies continuous travel without a fixed home, whereas migratory often follows seasonal or economic cycles between set points.
- sedentary: Sedentary describes populations remaining in one fixed place permanently.
Commonly confused with
- transient: Transient means staying for only a short time, while migratory implies systematic, cyclic movement.
Word family
- migrate (verb): To move from one region or country to another.
- migration (noun): The movement of people or animals from one area to another.
Collocations
- migratory pattern
- migratory routes
- migratory population
Example sentences
- "The migratory patterns of seasonal agricultural workers shift as harvests move across regional farm belts." Labor economics paper
Memory hook
MIGRATE + ORY = habit of migrating. On the move.
When not to use
Do not use to describe permanent settled populations who never relocate.
Fun facts
- The Arctic Tern has the longest migratory journey of any animal, flying nearly 44,000 miles each year.
Related words
Explore more words
migrate, seasonal, migration, transience, peripatetic, vagrant
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