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.

  1. 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.

Origin of repatriate

1
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; see re-, father, -ate1

Other words from repatriate

  • re·pa·tri·a·ble [ree-pey-tree-uh-buhl], /riˈpeɪ tri ə bəl/, adjective
  • re·pa·tri·a·tion [ree-pey-tree-ey-shuhn], /riˌpeɪ triˈeɪ ʃən/, noun
  • non·re·pa·tri·a·ble, adjective
  • un·re·pa·tri·at·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for repatriate

repatriate

verb(riːˈpætrɪˌeɪt) (tr)
  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(riːˈpætrɪɪt)
  1. a person who has been repatriated

Origin of repatriate

1
C17: from Late Latin repatriāre from Latin re- + patria fatherland; compare repair ²

Derived forms of repatriate

  • repatriation, noun

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