of immigrant descent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of immigrant descent" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone whose ancestors are immigrants to a particular country. For example, "She is of Italian immigrant descent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Many citizens (including those of immigrant descent) stated in a poll that they viewed Western lifestyles as inconsistent with Islam.

Encyclopedia Britannica

All women of immigrant descent were less likely to move after a union dissolution than native Dutch.

Princeton University

"Where are your parents from?" "France!" Even citizens of immigrant descent often identify whites with the term Français de souche — "French from the roots".

The New Yorker

"When you go see French people of immigrant descent in the suburbs and ask, 'Are you French?' he says, 'No, I'm a Muslim,' and that's a problem".

The New York Times

The Social Democrats are also capitalizing on the debate over the integration of the estimated 7.5 million immigrants and people of immigrant descent.

The New York Times

Mr. Sarkozy made some effort to correct the balance by appointing three women of immigrant descent to his first cabinet: Rachida Dati and Fadela Amara, alongside Ms. Yade.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The rest of the population comprises people descended from European immigrants or of mixed aboriginal and immigrant descent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Zebda (زبدة, transliterated Zibdah), the Arabic word for butter (beurre in French), is a play on the word beur, a French slang word referring to French citizens of Arab origin several of the group's members are of North African and other immigrant descent.

Columbia University

Children that confirmed any act of severe violence against people in the past 12 months were more frequently (p < 0.05) male, of labour-immigrant descent, with a relatively young father or mother, were more frequently under treatment, and they more frequently had had injuries requiring treatment.

BMC Pediatrics

Much has been said about racism in France, the discriminations that exist, the rejection of Muslims, Arabs and Africans, but statistics also indicate there has been for years a growing number of "mixed" couples (of immigrant and non-immigrant descent), and integration is more widespread than many are led to believe from some of the media coverage and toxic political rhetoric.

The Guardian

A thrice-married French president of immigrant and partly Jewish descent — Nicolas Sarkozy — would have been unthinkable without the legacy of '68, even if he has blamed its heirs for a crisis of "morality".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "of immigrant descent", specify the region or country of origin for clarity and context. For example, 'of Italian immigrant descent' or 'of African immigrant descent'.

Common error

Avoid using "of immigrant descent" as a blanket term. Always aim to provide specific details about the individual's ethnic or national background to avoid generalizations and promote understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of immigrant descent" functions as a post-nominal modifier, providing additional information about the noun it modifies. It specifies the ancestral origins related to immigration. As stated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and used to describe someone whose ancestors are immigrants.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "of immigrant descent" is a grammatically correct and useful way to describe someone's heritage, indicating that their ancestors were immigrants. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to specify the origins of a person related to immigration. While commonly found in news and academic contexts, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse audiences. When using this phrase, providing specific details about the region or country of origin will enhance clarity and avoid overgeneralizations. Alternatives such as "from an immigrant background" or "with immigrant roots" offer slight variations in emphasis but serve a similar purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Descended from immigrants

States descent more explicitly.

From an immigrant background

Emphasizes the background rather than direct descent.

With immigrant roots

Highlights the roots or origin of the individual.

Having immigrant heritage

Focuses on the heritage or cultural legacy.

From immigrant stock

Uses 'stock' to denote lineage or ancestry.

Of foreign-born parentage

Specifies that parents were born outside the country.

With a background of immigration

Highlights the immigration aspect as a background detail.

An offspring of immigrants

Uses a more formal term (offspring) for child or descendant.

A product of immigrant families

Frames the person as a result or product of immigrant families.

Belonging to the immigrant diaspora

Highlights connection to the wider immigrant community or diaspora.

FAQs

How can I use "of immigrant descent" in a sentence?

You can use "of immigrant descent" to describe someone's heritage. For example, "She is a citizen of immigrant descent".

What's a more formal way to say "of immigrant descent"?

A more formal alternative could be "descended from immigrants". For example, "He is "descended from immigrants" who arrived in the early 20th century".

Is it better to say "immigrant descent" or "of immigrant descent"?

The phrase "of immigrant descent" is grammatically correct and more common. "Immigrant descent" without the "of" is less standard.

What are some other phrases similar to "of immigrant descent"?

Similar phrases include "from an immigrant background", "with immigrant roots", or "having immigrant heritage". Each of these phrases offers a slightly different nuance but conveys a similar meaning.