refugee

noun

ref·​u·​gee ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē How to pronounce refugee (audio)
ˈre-fyu̇-ˌjē
: one that flees
especially : a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution
refugeeism
ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce refugee (audio)
ˈre-fyu̇-ˌjē-
noun

Examples of refugee in a Sentence

Thousands of refugees have fled the area. refugees began returning to their homeland after years of political unrest and war
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trabajadores Unidos Workers United was given an additional $541,375 to prepare immigrant and refugee communities with training and mutual aid. Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025 Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been pushed out of refugee camps. Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025 Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees over decades of war, though has moved to expel many of them in recent years, citing the risk of terrorism. Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025 People, including Afghan refugees leaving Pakistan, were turned away due to the worsening security situation. NPR, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for refugee

Word History

Etymology

French réfugié, past participle of (se) réfugier to take refuge, from Middle French refugier, from Latin refugium

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of refugee was in 1685

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refugee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refugee. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

refugee

noun
ref·​u·​gee ˌref-yu̇-ˈjē How to pronounce refugee (audio)
ˈref-yu̇-ˌjē
: a person who flees for safety especially to a foreign country
Etymology

from French réfugié, past participle of réfugier "to put in a place of safety," from Latin refugium "a refuge," from refugere "to run away from, escape," from re- "again, against" and fugere "to run away, flee" — related to centrifugal, fugitive

Legal Definition

refugee

noun
ref·​u·​gee ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē How to pronounce refugee (audio)
: an individual seeking refuge or asylum
especially : an individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution (as because of race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion)

More from Merriam-Webster on refugee

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