Expatriate

An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country.

The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and other individuals who have chosen to live outside their native country.^{[citation needed]}

The International Organization for Migration of the United Nations defines the term as 'a person who voluntarily renounces his or her nationality'. Historically, it also referred to exiles.

The UAE is the country with the highest percentage of expatriates in the world after the Vatican City, with expatriates in the United Arab Emirates representing 88% of the population.

The word expatriate comes from the Latin words ex 'out of' and patria, from terra patria, 'native country, fatherland'.

Dictionary definitions for the current meaning of the word include:

These definitions contrast with those of other words with the same meaning, such as:

The varying use of these terms for different groups of foreigners can be seen as implying nuances about wealth, intended length of stay, perceived motives for moving, nationality, and even race. This has caused controversy, with some commentators asserting that the traditional use of the word "expat" has had racist connotations.