refugee

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

refugeeism

2 of 2

noun (2)

ref·​u·​gee·​ism -ēˌizəm 

plural -s

: the state of being a refugee

Synonyms of refugee

Noun (1)

• exile
• fugitive
• alien
• émigré
• expatriate

Examples of refugee in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

That ultimately became Exit Party, a speculative story about a dystopian not-so-distant future in which the government of the United States has collapsed and Los Angeles has become something of a refugee camp from the latent civil war. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026

In recent years, Spelman has added majors and minors in documentary filmmaking, photography, data science, refugee studies and gaming. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2026

The vice president also invoked Iryna Zarutska, the Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed on Charlotte’s light rail in 2025. — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026

Ung, the son of Cambodian refugees and a onetime personal trainer turned reluctant doughnut maker, is closing the chapter on Monarch to rest — and weigh what might come next. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Noun

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)