Ellis Island
noun /ˌelɪs ˈaɪlənd/
/ˌelɪs ˈaɪlənd/
- a small island near New York City that from 1892 to 1943 was the official place of entry for people coming to live in the US from other countriesCultureEllis Island was in use as a place of entry between 1892 and 1943. About 20 million people entered the US there, but it was called the 'island of tears' because some were refused entry. In 1990 it became the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.