After moving to the Philippines in 2006, I noticed the word “expatriate” used and abused more frequently than any other when it comes to American citizens living outside of the United States. Even though “expatriate” sounds a lot like “ex-patriot”, I assure you the meanings of the words are completely different. In writing, sometimes “expat” is used instead of “expatriate”, either because the writer isn’t sure how to spell it or because the writer doesn’t know how to spell it. It may help you understand the differences if I lay it all out for you.
Patriot
The word “patriot” has a couple of common meanings:
- A person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.
- A person who regards himself or herself as a defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.
An ex-patriot, therefore, would be someone who is now opposed to either or both of the two definitions. That person, most likely, would be an insurgent or a supporter of an insurgency.
Expatriate
The root word, “patriate” has no meaning for an individual and is a back-formed word from “repatriate”, which I’ll be listing after this. The word “expatriate” has a few common meanings.
- To banish (a person) from his or her native country.
- To withdraw (oneself) from residence in one’s native country.
- To withdraw (oneself) from allegiance to one’s country.
- An expatriated person.
Repatriate
The word “repatriate” has only one meaning when it comes to individuals: To bring or send back (a person, especially a prisoner of war, a refugee, etc.) to his or her country or land of citizenship.
While repatriation has no bearing on most Americans, Republic Act No. 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003) of the Philippines allows for Filipinos that became citizens of a foreign country to be citizens of the Philippines again by affirming a new oath of allegiance. This is how Filipino-Americans are able to be dual-citizens.
What am I?
Well, I probably fall under both definitions of “patriot”, but I only fall under the 2nd and 4th definition of “expatriate”, which is what most Americans living outside of the United States would probably be classified as. Since I don’t intend to become a Filipino citizen, repatriation isn’t an issue I’ll ever have to contend with.
You see, you can be a patriot and an expatriate at the same time because of the differences in meanings.
I dig the clarification. Not that I am an expatriate, but I have been toying around with the idea.
Also toying around with the definition of the word “patriot” seems necessary as recent U.S. events have forced a closer look at the word. I’ve had to conclude that if I am to justifiably define myself as a patriot, then it’s necessary to throw out all assumption that a patriot is someone who simply, obediently does as his country asks. I used to think that, but no longer do.
At this point, I gravitate toward a definition that’s a bit more abstract, but lets me sleep at night, as someone who ardently supports and upholds the fundamental views on which his country was built. Unfortunately, there are more opportunities to exercise that definition of patriotism than when I was actually in the military (where obedience was both demanded and awarded). Not so as a civilian, and less and less everyday.
The three have in common but in different ways. As you explain the meaning I truly understand the hidden message of both patriot and expatriate. To be exact, a person who already in the town and loves his country has been a patriot and if he or she decided to move it falls to expatriate. An easy word yet the whole covered has a great explanation!