repatriate

[ verb ree-pey-tree-eyt; noun ree-pey-tree-it ]

verb (used with object)

, re·pa·tri·at·ed, re·pa·tri·at·ing.

1. to bring or send back (a person, especially a prisoner of war, a refugee, etc.) to their country or land of citizenship.
2. to send (profits or other assets) back to one's own country.
3. to restore to a country that has attained sovereignty something that was formerly held or administered on that country’s behalf by a colonial power:

   In 1982, the Trudeau government repatriated Canada's constitution from Britain.

verb (used without object)

, re·pa·tri·at·ed, re·pa·tri·at·ing.

1. to return to one's own country:

   to repatriate after 20 years abroad.

noun

1. a person who has been repatriated.

repatriate

verb

1. to send back (a refugee, prisoner of war, etc) to the country of his birth or citizenship
2. to send back (a sum of money previously invested abroad) to its country of origin

noun

1. a person who has been repatriated

Derived Forms

• reˌpatriˈation, noun

Other Words From

• re·pa·tri·a·ble [ree-, pey, -tree-, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• re·pa·tri·a·tion [ree-pey-tree-, ey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• non·re·pa·tri·a·ble adjective
• un·re·pa·tri·at·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of repatriate¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin repatriātus (past participle of repatriāre “to return to one's fatherland”), equivalent to Latin re- “again, back” + patri(a) “native country” (noun use of feminine of patrius “paternal,” derivative of pater “father”) + -ātus past participle suffix; re-, father, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of repatriate¹

C17: from Late Latin repatriāre from Latin re- + patria fatherland; compare repair ²

Example Sentences

The coroner said she ordered a post-mortem examination when the body of Mrs Savage was repatriated to Wales, which was carried out at Glan Clwyd Hospital.

From BBC

He has submitted documents proving its provenance to Nepali authorities, saying: "The day it is repatriated will be the most important day in my life."

From BBC

This repatriated collection represents a minuscule fraction of the 7,000 pieces the French pillaged from their former colony — and that number applies only to what they took from this one location among many.

From Los Angeles Times

Salmond's body was repatriated to Scotland from North Macedonia on a private flight paid for by Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter.

From BBC

The refugees were repatriated at the request of the Turkish government, Kenya's foreign ministry says.

From BBC