Meaning of Expats | Generated by AI
Question: What does “expats” mean?
Answer:
Expats is the common shortened form of expatriates.
An expatriate (or expat) is a person who lives outside their native country, usually for work, study, retirement, or lifestyle reasons. The term typically implies that the move is temporary or semi-permanent (as opposed to permanent immigration), and the person often retains strong ties to their home country (e.g., citizenship, intention to return eventually).
Key points:
- Derived from Latin: ex (“out of + patria (“native country”).
- Commonly used for professionals sent abroad by their companies (“posted expats”), digital nomads, retirees living in warmer climates, etc.
- Sometimes carries a connotation of privilege (e.g., Western professionals in developing countries receiving special benefits), which distinguishes it from “immigrant” or “migrant” in everyday language, though technically anyone living abroad can be an expatriate.
Examples:
- A British engineer working in Dubai for five years → often called an expat.
- A Mexican factory worker who moved to the US → more commonly called an immigrant or migrant worker.
In short: Expats = people living outside their home country, especially when the move is seen as voluntary and temporary.