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Kevin
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July 29, 2024
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Common Questions
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Have you ever heard of the word expat? If you have traveled abroad or know someone who has, then you might have heard this word used once or twice. Still, do you know its true definition
You can figure out some of its meanings by looking at context, but it’s complete definition can still be a little harder to pick out. Expat is a helpful word to add to your vocabulary, especially if you love to travel.
So, today’s word of the day is expat. Let’s learn more about this word’s meaning and history.
What Is the Meaning of the Word Expat?
The word expat is relatively simple in the grand scheme of things. It is simply an abbreviation for the word expatriate. Here’s a simple definition of expat that you might find in a dictionary:
- A person who does not reside in their own country, but is living in a foreign country
Any migrant who leaves their native country to go work or live in a new country is considered an expat. However, an expat is slightly different from an immigrant, which has a similar definition.
An immigrant is a person who takes permanent residency in a different country, whether it is to get a better life, better healthcare, or for another reason.
For this reason, there is a positive connotation associated with expat. Many think of the expat community as well-educated, often wealthy individuals moving to another country for a short period of time to better themselves with international experience or accomplish a goal.
Many American or British expats go to other countries as students, perhaps studying at a university outside their home country. Sometimes, expats are retirees looking to travel and have a more multinational experience.
As time has gone on, the definition has shifted even more. Now, when people say the word expat, they often mean that a person is living abroad permanently, while it used to refer to a short-term change. So, the line between the word expat and the word immigrant is growing thinner. There is some debate as to whether or not this is racially motivated.
Where Did the Word Expat Come From?
To help bring more clarity to the definition of the term expat or expat, let’s look at the history of how it came to be. Since expat an abbreviation for the word expatriate, let’s first look at the etymology of the word expatriate.
The history of this word goes all the way back to Latin. Its oldest ancestor is actually the Latin word for father, pater. Pater was the root word for another Latin word patria, which means “native country or land of my fathers.”
In the 14th century, this word was introduced into French with the alternate spelling patrie. Soon after, the prefix ex- was added to the word, which means “out of.” This created the word expatrier.
By the 1700s, this word had made it into the English language in the form we know today: expatriate. However, the French word and the 1700s English word had a slightly different definitions with negative connotations.
Expatriate was actually a verb that meant “to banish from a native country.” To be expatriated was not a good thing at all. Over time, the definition evolved, and we now understand the word with a more positive connotation.
It wasn’t until about the 1960s that the term was shortened to the abbreviation expat.
What Are Examples of the Word Expat in a Sentence?
Seeing a word in context can help bring more clarity to its definition and how you can use it in your own life. Here are some example sentences that use the word expat.
I don’t know their country of origin, but I know they’re an expat here for a few months on work.
Have you met Jing, they’re an expat here from Hong Kong for the next several weeks.
I hate all these American expats coming in and thinking that they belong.
When I was an expat in New Zealand, I took a weekend trip to go see the place where Lord of the Rings was filmed.
When I was an expat in Nigeria, I gained a new level of appreciate for the African people and their history.
The wealthy Brits are constantly sending over expats in the hopes that it will make them better people, but they never change.
My time as an expat in Singapore was absolutely life changing!
I don’t know why I decided to be an expat, but I just thought it was going to change my life.
Why are white people who travel called expats while people of color who travel called immigrants?
There are an estimated nine million Americans who are now expats living abroad.
What Are the Synonyms of the Word Expat?
Here are some synonyms of the word expat that you might find in a thesaurus.
- Migrant worker
- Emigrant
- Nonnative
- Departer
- Refugee
- Exiled
- Expatriate
The Word Expat
Now you know everything you need to know about the word expat, its definition, its history, and how to use it. Use it confidently in your writing and your conversation — maybe you’ll even become an expat one day yourself!
Sources:
EXPATRIATE | Cambridge English Dictionary
