repatriation

noun

re·​pa·​tri·​a·​tion (ˌ)rē-ˌpā-trē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce repatriation (audio)
-ˌpa-
plural repatriations
: the act or process of restoring or returning someone or something to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship : the act of repatriating or the state of being repatriated
While officials privately acknowledge there is scant legal basis for repatriation, their public statements suggest that they would use lawsuits, diplomatic pressure and shame to bring home looted objects—not unlike Italy, Greece and Egypt, which have sought, with some success, to recover antiquities in European and American museums.Andrew Jacobs
They say they have that right under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which requires that human remains and artifacts be returned to Indian tribes that can show a cultural link.Timothy Egan
This left him an illegal immigrant in Hong Kong, subject to arrest and repatriation at any time.Nicholas D. Kristof

Examples of repatriation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Indonesian embassy in Iraq eventually assisted with their repatriation. Raquel Carvalho, TIME, 5 Feb. 2025 Republicans and Democrats on the Miami-Dade County Commission on Tuesday urged the Trump administration to reverse course and extend deportation protection for Haitians, Venezuelans and other immigrants from countries the Biden administration deemed too dangerous for normal repatriation efforts. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2025 President Gustavo Petro made the appeal via social media on Friday morning, less than a week after President Donald Trump forced him to accept repatriation flights under the threat of crippling tariffs. Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 31 Jan. 2025 The global museum community has been watching the evolution of American attitudes towards repatriation with interest. Chloe Veltman, NPR, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for repatriation

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of repatriation was in 1592

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Repatriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repatriation. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on repatriation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!