migratory

adjective

mi·​gra·​to·​ry ˈmī-grə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce migratory (audio)
Synonyms of migratorynext
1
: of, relating to, or characterized by migration
2
: wandering, roving

Synonyms of migratory

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of migratory in a Sentence

most of the apple crop is picked by migratory workers migratory birds heading south for the winter
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Among other consequences, the professor and others say, the lake’s deterioration has international implications for the 12 million migratory birds that stop here every year. — Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026 Nearly 70% of bird species worldwide are migratory, and about 80% of migratory birds travel at night, according to the National Audubon Society. — The Summit Daily, Denver Post, 26 Aug. 2026 Similarly, large-scale hydroelectric dams disrupt freshwater ecosystems by fragmenting rivers, blocking migratory fish species like salmon, and altering natural sediment flows. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026 Letting water levels rise within the preserve lets aquatic life such as plants and fish thrive, while lowering levels is good for the soil and the wetland plants growing in it, and lets migratory birds more easily prey on fish. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for migratory

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of migratory was in 1708

Rhymes for migratory

See All Rhymes for migratory

Browse Nearby Words

migratorial
migratory
migratory ant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Migratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/migratory. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

migratory

adjective
mi·​gra·​to·​ry ˈmī-grə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce migratory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
: having a way of life that includes making migrations
migratory workers
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All