# expatriate

/ɛkˈspeɪtɹiˌeɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/expatriate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. person living abroad

noun · CEFR B2

someone who lives in a country that is not their own, usually for work or study.

For teachers: a person residing in a country other than their native one, typically for professional or educational purposes.

- The city has a large community of expatriates who work for international companies.
- The local government introduced new tax incentives to attract skilled expatriates to the burgeoning technology sector.

### 2. living outside one's country

adjective · CEFR B2

describes someone who is living in a foreign country.

For teachers: residing in a foreign country; not comparable.

- She enjoys the expatriate lifestyle and the chance to travel to nearby countries.
- The expatriate population often gathers at specific social clubs to maintain a sense of cultural connection to their home countries.

### 3. to leave or banish

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to leave your own country to live in another, or to be forced to leave by the government.

For teachers: to withdraw from one's native country or to banish a person from their own country.

- He decided to expatriate himself after finding a better job in Singapore.
- The revolutionary leaders were expatriated by the new regime and forced to seek asylum in neighbouring states.

Usage: The transitive use meaning 'to banish' is less common in modern speech than the reflexive 'to expatriate oneself'.

## Examples

- The expatriate moved to London for a new job.
- Many expatriates find it difficult to adjust to the local culture and climate when they first arrive in a foreign city.
- The government provides various support services to expatriates, including language classes and legal assistance, to help them integrate into the local community more effectively.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.