refugee

noun

ref·​u·​gee ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē 

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 

ˈre-fyu̇-ˌjē-

noun

Synonyms

• exile
• fugitive
• alien
• émigré
• expatriate

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

Much of his comments, and those from other Republicans at the event, focused on local and national conversations about crime after the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the LYNX Blue Line light rail and the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. —Mary Ramsey updated September 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025

Sølberg’s fascination with Hanawon, South Korea’s integration center for North Korean refugees, led him to make a radio documentary about the facility. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025

Ulukaya has been a vocal supporter of hiring refugees and pledged to give away the majority of his fortune to help refugees, according to The New York Times. —Emily Barnes, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025

Sophie Carson is a general assignment reporter who reports on religion and faith, immigrants and refugees and more. —Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025

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

Kids Definition

refugee

noun

ref·​u·​gee ˌref-yu̇-ˈjē 

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 

: 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)