Expat

Semantics

Academics seeking a technical definition of the word "expatriate" sometimes take it to mean a person who is legally living abroad, but—unlike an immigrant—eventually intends to return to their country of origin. In popular usage, the word "expat"—especially when contrasted with words like "immigrant"—is freighted with nuances about wealth, education level, perceived motives for moving, nationality, class, and type of employment; the BBC proffered that the word "expat" is more likely to be applied to rich professionals, while foreigners working as maids or builders are more likely to be called "foreign workers" or "migrant workers". Some commentators assert that the traditional use of the word "expat" has racist connotations. A 2026 newspaper survey in Brussels, where 85% of the population are immigrants or children of immigrants, found a range of opinions from self-identified immigrants or expats, including the opinion that the term "expat" creates unnecessary divisions and stigmatizes the word "immigrant".