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rapatrier

repatriate

verb rah-pah-tree-AY Rare

Usage Note

Rapatrier means to return someone (or something) to their country of origin — it is used for people, funds, and cultural artefacts alike. The noun rapatrié refers to a repatriated person; the term carries historical weight from the large-scale repatriation of French settlers from Algeria in 1962.

Examples

"Le gouvernement a décidé de rapatrier ses ressortissants."

Natural Translation

The government decided to repatriate its nationals.

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