refugee

play

noun ref·u·gee \ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē, ˈre-fyu̇-ˌ\

Definition of refugee

: one that flees; especially : a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution

refugeeism

play \-ˌi-zəm\ noun

See refugee defined for English-language learners

See refugee defined for kids

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 of refugee from the Web

There were also tributes to Syrian refugee Sarah Mardini, who famously jumped in the waters off Italy with her sister, Ysra, to pull the boat filled with 18 immigrants for several hours to shore.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "One last dispatch from the Fringe: 8 shows close annual festival", 4 July 2017
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Google and Twitter have become a battleground for angry debates about Germany's recent influx of more than 1 million refugees, with authorities struggling to keep up with the flood of criminal complaints.

— frank jordans, Jewish Journal, "Germany passes law against online hate speech", 3 July 2017
My wife, for example, her father was a refugee and had to leave Ethiopia.

— jonah flicker, Esquire, "Marcus Samuelsson on How 'Claiming' a Culture's Food Is Not the Same as Loving It", 28 June 2017
Four speak Spanish, one speaks Nepalese and one speaks Hakha Chin, a southeast Asian language popular with the area’s Burmese refugees.

— andy marso, kansascity.com, "UHC grant helps Wyandotte County residents navigate maze of health care and social services", 28 June 2017
In Lebanon, where millions of refugees have fled, similar Ramadan gatherings are also taking place.

— araceli cruz, Teen Vogue, "Ramadan Feast in Syrian City Goes Viral", 23 June 2017
One installation consists of a bright orange life jacket—like the ones worn by thousands of refugees traveling to Europe by sea.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "London Exhibit Showcases Artwork of Teenage Refugees", 23 June 2017
Maslenjuk countered that her omission in 1998 was immaterial to her application for refugee status.

— matt ford, The Atlantic, "The Supreme Court Defends the Integrity of U.S. Citizenship", 22 June 2017
The biggest threats to the animals are rapid human population growth and the influx of herders, along with refugees fleeing regional conflicts.

— jane qiu, Science | AAAS, "Surge in wildlife killings is wiping out giraffes", 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'refugee'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of refugee

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

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First Known Use: 1685

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REFUGEE Defined for English Language Learners

refugee

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noun

Definition of refugee for English Language Learners

: someone who has been forced to leave a country because of war or for religious or political reasons

REFUGEE Defined for Kids

refugee

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noun ref·u·gee \ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē\

Definition of refugee for Students

: a person who flees for safety (as from war) usually to a foreign country

Law Dictionary

refugee

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noun ref·u·gee \ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē\

Legal Definition of refugee

: 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)