Emigrate vs Immigrate

What is the difference?

VS

Emigrate (Verb)

Definition:

The term emigrate means to leave one’s own country or region to settle permanently in another.

Usage:

Emigrate is used to specify the act of leaving one’s country of origin to live in a different country. An example would be, “In the nineteenth century, many people emigrated from Europe to the United States.” In this case, it means moving from one place to another for the purpose of settling in a new place. This term is specifically used to highlight the process of moving from one residence or country to another in order to begin a new life.

Examples:

  • They decided to emigrate in search of better opportunities abroad.
  • Many people emigrated from Pakistan in 1947 due to the partition.
  • It is difficult to emigrate without proper visas.

Synonyms:

  • Leave
  • Depart
  • Migrate
  • Move Abroad
  • Relocate

Immigrate (Verb)

Definition:

“Immigrate” means to come to live permanently in a foreign country.

Usage:

Immigrate is only relevant to the process of entering a foreign country to live there as a permanent resident. For example, “They immigrated to Australia from China” describes the process of individuals setting up a home in a new country. This term emphasizes arrival and the process following it in a new national setting, which, in most cases, concerns legal regimes related to residence and citizenship.

Examples:

  • Elia and her family immigrated to my city when I was 11.
  • Many families immigrate for a better education for their children.
  • William had to wait several years to immigrate due to visa restrictions.

Synonyms:

  • Settle
  • Resettle
  • Move

Key Differences:

The main factors that differentiate “emigrate” and “immigrate” incorporate their meanings and the ways they are employed.

Emigrate refers to the process whereby a person migrates from their country of origin intending to make a new country their permanent home. It focuses on the movement away from one’s home or the starting point.

On the other hand, “immigrate” is the process of residing in a foreign country indefinitely or, in some cases, for the rest of one’s life. In relation to a specific country, it explains how one establishes oneself as a resident in a new country.

VS

Confusing Words