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

After the Hoover and FDR administrations forced over a million Mexican immigrants and their American-born children to repatriate to Mexico during the Great Depression, a labor shortage led to the bracero program, which legally brought in millions of Mexican workers.

From Los Angeles Times

Kenya's foreign ministry said it had agreed to Turkey's request to repatriate the four men because of the country's "robust historical and strategic relations" with Turkey, and that it had been assured the refugees would be "treated with dignity".

From BBC

There had been calls for an RAF flight to repatriate his body, but it is now confirmed a private charter flight - paid for independently - will fly to Aberdeen.

From BBC

Discussions on arrangements to repatriate his body to Scotland are under way.

From BBC

Arrangements to repatriate his body to Scotland are under way.

From BBC