transmigrate

/trænsˈmɑɪgreɪt/

Other forms: transmigrated; transmigrating; transmigrates

You're most likely to come across the word transmigrate in a religious context. Your soul, some people believe, will transmigrate into a new body after death.

Another way to say transmigrate is reincarnate, or be born again after death. Many religions believe that people transmigrate after they die, including Buddhism and Hinduism as well as some Native American beliefs. Rarely, the verb transmigrate is used to mean "move to a new country," although migrate is much more common. The root is the Latin word transmigrat, "move from one place to another," from the prefix trans, "across or beyond," and migratus, "to move."

Definitions of transmigrate

1. verb

   be born anew in another body after death
   “Hindus believe that we transmigrate”

   synonyms: reincarnate

   type of:

   be born

   come into existence through birth
2. verb

   move from one country or region to another and settle there
   “This tribe transmigrated many times over the centuries”

   synonyms: migrate

   migrate

   move periodically or seasonally

   types:

   immigrate

   come into a new country and change residency

   immigrate

   migrate to a new environment

   emigrate

   leave one's country of residence for a new one

   expatriate

   move away from one's native country and adopt a new residence abroad

   type of:

   move

   change residence, affiliation, or place of employment