What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
migrant
Example
The migrant workers came to the city in search of employment. [migrant: noun]
Example
The monarch butterfly is a migrant species that travels thousands of miles each year. [migrant: adjective]
nomad
Example
The Bedouin tribes were nomads who roamed the desert with their herds. [nomads: plural noun]
Example
The caribou is a nomadic animal that migrates across vast distances. [nomadic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Migrant is a more common word than nomad in everyday language, as it is used to describe people who move to a new location for work or better living conditions. Nomad is less common and is often used to describe specific cultural groups or animals that move frequently.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between migrant and nomad?
Both migrant and nomad are relatively neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.