repatriation

noun

re·​pa·​tri·​a·​tion (ˌ)rē-ˌpā-trē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce repatriation (audio)
-ˌpa-
plural repatriations
: the act or process of restoring or returning someone or something to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship : the act of repatriating or the state of being repatriated
While officials privately acknowledge there is scant legal basis for repatriation, their public statements suggest that they would use lawsuits, diplomatic pressure and shame to bring home looted objects—not unlike Italy, Greece and Egypt, which have sought, with some success, to recover antiquities in European and American museums.Andrew Jacobs
They say they have that right under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which requires that human remains and artifacts be returned to Indian tribes that can show a cultural link.Timothy Egan
This left him an illegal immigrant in Hong Kong, subject to arrest and repatriation at any time.Nicholas D. Kristof

Examples of repatriation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The museum is working with tribal partners to ensure respectful and confidential handling of the repatriation process. Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 22 Nov. 2024 Overall, Biden has carried out more total repatriations — sending people out of the U.S. — than Trump. Maria Ramirez Uribe, Austin American-Statesman, 20 Nov. 2024 There’s talk about the repatriation as a gesture meant to boost the image of France, or as a political act on the part of Beninese president Patrice Talon, who, as one student points out, is the descendant of interpreters who helped allow the thefts to happen in the first place. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024 According to The Korea Times, in July 2024 Beijing demanded that Pyongyang recall North Korean workers in China—numbered in the tens of thousands—so that China could comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2937, which called for the repatriation of North Korean laborers. Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for repatriation 

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of repatriation was in 1592

Dictionary Entries Near repatriation

Cite this Entry

“Repatriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repatriation. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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