What does "repatriate" mean?
A person who has returned to their country of origin or whose original citizenship has been restored.
Repatriate
/ɹiːˈpeɪ.tɹi.eɪt/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person who has returned to their country of origin or whose original citizenship has been restored.
- Grammar: repatriate is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: bring back, extradite, give back, homecomer.
- Useful contrasts: emigrant, exile, expatriates.
- Usage evidence: The Indonesian government announced that it plans to repatriate 68 of its citizens who are crew members aboard the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, at the center of Japan’s coronavirus outbreak.
How to use "repatriate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "repatriate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "repatriate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "repatriate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "repatriate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "repatriate" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bring back" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "repatriate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person who has returned to their country of origin or whose original citizenship has been restored.
- 2 a person who has returned to the country of origin or whose citizenship has been restored wordnet
Verb
- 1 To restore (a person) to their own country. transitive
"Early in 1948, a rumor spread through camp that the Japanese prisoners of war were finally going to be allowed to go home, that a ship would be sent to repatriate us in the spring."
- 2 admit back into the country wordnet
- 3 To return or restore (artworks, museum exhibits, etc.) to their country of origin. transitive
"Greece repatriated an Athenian frieze from France, arranging for it to be sent back to Athens."
- 4 send someone back to their homeland against their will, as of refugees wordnet
- 5 To convert a foreign currency into the currency of one's own country. transitive
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The Indonesian government announced that it plans to repatriate 68 of its citizens who are crew members aboard the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, at the center of Japan’s coronavirus outbreak."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "repatriate"?
Common synonyms include: bring back, extradite, give back, homecomer, put back, reclaim.
How do you use "repatriate" in a sentence?
The Indonesian government announced that it plans to repatriate 68 of its citizens who are crew members aboard the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, at the center of Japan’s coronavirus outbreak.
How do you pronounce "repatriate"?
Pronounced /ɹiːˈpeɪ.tɹi.eɪt/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin repatriare, from re- + patria (“homeland”). Cognate to repair (“to return”).