patriate

[ pey-tree-eyt; especially British pa‑ ]

verb (used with object)

, Canadian.

, pa·tri·at·ed, pa·tri·at·ing.

1. to transfer (legislation) to the authority of an autonomous country from its previous mother country.

patriate

/ ˈpætrɪˌeɪt; ˈpeɪtrɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to bring under the authority of an autonomous country, for example as in the transfer of the Canadian constitution from UK to Canadian responsibility

Derived Forms

• ˌpatriˈation, noun

Other Words From

• patri·ation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of patriate¹

First recorded in 1965–70; back formation from repatriate

Example Sentences

Not until the 1960s did we fly our own flag and sing our own anthem, and not until 1982 did Trudeau’s father, Pierre, patriate the constitution from the UK, adding a charter of rights.

From The Guardian

He plans to ask the legislators for unilateral action to "patriate" the British North America Act without provincial approval.

From Time Magazine Archive

As it happens, Trudeau is already embroiled with Lougheed and most of the other provincial premiers on another thorny issue: how to "patriate," or bring home, Canada's constitution.

From Time Magazine Archive