Migratory
/ˈmaɪ.ɡrəˌtɔːr.i/noun
Relating to movement from one place to another, especially seasonal movement of animals or people.
Did you know?Migratory comes from Latin migratorius, from migrare, a verb used for moving away, shifting residence, or wandering—so the word’s core idea is not travel, but departure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meigʰ-
“to change place, move, or exchange”
Latin
Latin
migrare
“to move away, migrate, or change residence”
Late Latin
Latin
migratorius
“pertaining to migration or moving from place to place”
Middle French
Old French
migratoire
“migratory, relating to migration”
16th Century
English
migratory
“moving from one region or place to another, especially seasonally”