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

• deportee
• émigré
• emigré
• evacuee
• exile
• expat [chiefly British]
• 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

My feeling after 76 years of being a refugee from the country where I and my ancestors were born and watching a genocide unfold are at an all time high. —Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Apr. 2024

That includes laws and policies that discriminate against Muslims (such as denying fast-track citizenship to Muslim refugees from neighboring nations, restricting or banning beef in some states, and expunging mentions of Muslim history from school textbooks). —Michael Kugelman, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024

Cases of measles had surged that year from outbreaks linked to unvaccinated Afghan refugees. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024

Serrano pointed to the fall of Kabul in 2021, for example, that resulted in a large influx of Afghan refugees arriving in the U.S., many settling in Orange County. —Destiny Torres, Orange County Register, 16 Apr. 2024

Under the program run by the Office of Global Michigan (OGM), eligible refugees and immigrants can receive up to $500 in rental assistance for up to 12 months. —Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024

The Biden administration has used its executive authority to open a back door to allow thousands of migrants into the United States temporarily, while also taking steps to repair the legal refugee program. —Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024

German officials have said that Russians fleeing military service can seek protection, and a French court last summer ruled that Russians who refuse to fight can claim refugee status. —Erika Kinetz, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2024

Also known as the Sacramento FUEL Network, the coalition of community groups including pro bono attorneys work together to help Sacramento’s immigrant and refugee population. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024

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)