repatriator
|re-pa-tri-a-tor|
🇺🇸
/ˌriːpəˈtriːeɪtər/
🇬🇧
/ˌriːpəˈtriːeɪtə/
one who returns people or things to their homeland
Etymology
'repatriator' originates from Latin and French, specifically from the Latin root 'patria' (meaning 'fatherland' or 'native country') combined with the prefix 're-' (meaning 'back'), and via French 'rapatrier' ('to repatriate').
'repatriator' was formed in English from the verb 'repatriate' (itself from French 'rapatrier' and Latin 'patria'), creating the agent noun ending in '-or' to denote 'one who repatriates'.
Initially the root referred to the act of returning to one's homeland; over time the derived agent noun has come to mean specifically 'a person or organization that returns people or things to their country of origin'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person, official, or organization responsible for returning people to their country of origin (for example refugees, prisoners, deportees, or displaced persons).
The repatriator coordinated flights to bring displaced families back to their homeland.
Synonyms
Noun 2
an agent or organization that arranges the return of cultural property, human remains, funds, or other items to their country or community of origin.
Museums sometimes work with a repatriator to return artifacts to indigenous communities.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/26 01:43