expat
expat Lexical Profile
expat Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who lives outside their native country, often temporarily for work or retirement.
"As an American expat living in Tokyo, she quickly adapted to the local public transit system."
• adjective
Relating to or denoting a person or community living outside their native country.
"The city boasts a vibrant expat community with numerous international schools and cultural clubs."
Word Nuance & Usage
While technically a shortened form of 'expatriate', 'expat' is typically used in informal contexts to describe professionals or retirees living abroad temporarily, whereas 'immigrant' usually implies permanent relocation.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century as an informal clipping of 'expatriate', which derives from Medieval Latin 'expatriatus', meaning 'banished from one's native land' (from 'ex-' meaning 'out of' and 'patria' meaning 'fatherland').