# migrant

/ˈmaɪɡɹənt/ (US) · /mˈaɪɡɹənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/migrant
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. a migratory animal

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an animal or bird that moves from one part of the world to another at certain times of the year.

For teachers: an animal, particularly a bird or insect, that performs regular seasonal journeys between different geographical regions.

- The wetlands are a vital resting place for every feathered migrant flying south for the winter.
- Ornithologists tracked the tiny migrant across three continents to better understand its annual breeding cycle.

### 3. moving from place to place

adjective · CEFR B2

describing someone or something that moves regularly from one place to another.

For teachers: characterised by migration; moving habitually or seasonally from one region to another.

- Many migrant families move north every summer to help with the fruit harvest.
- The local economy relies heavily on a migrant workforce that arrives each spring to staff the coastal resorts.

## Examples

- The farm hires many seasonal migrants to help with the harvest.
- The government is developing new policies to support migrants who arrive in the city looking for employment.
- Sociologists distinguish between economic migrants seeking better wages and refugees fleeing conflict, though the lived experiences of these groups often overlap in complex ways during their journeys.

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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.