1
Human relocation
Movement of people to another region or country.
Example
Rail construction accelerated migration toward inland cities.
migration
/maɪˈɡreɪʃən/ · my-GRAY-shuhnnoun
The movement of people, animals, or other entities from one region or system to another.
Use migration for sustained movement between places, including seasonal animal travel, human relocation, and technical transfer.
What migration Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Seasonal animal movement
Regular travel between feeding or breeding areas.
Example
Satellite tags revealed the turtles' annual migration route.
3
Transfer between systems
Movement of data, cells, or substances from one location to another.
Example
The software migration preserved most user records.
Use migration Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Rail construction accelerated migration toward inland cities.
Satellite tags revealed the turtles' annual migration route.
The software migration preserved most user records.
Precision Matters
Migration overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
migration
vs.Describes movement between places.
indigenous
Describes origin and rootedness in a place.
migration
vs.Changes location or system.
adaptation
Changes traits or practices to fit conditions.
migration
vs.May occur gradually over a long period.
watershed
Marks a pivotal turning point.
migration
vs.Requires movement to another setting.
exposure
Requires only contact with an influence.
Test migration in Context
The birds regularly move between regions with the seasons.
1
Tracking data show that the birds return to the same wetlands every winter, following a remarkably stable seasonal ___ across thousands of kilometres.