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

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

The refugees are brutally chased across the border out of the EU into the darkness of the woods. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024

Literacy, soft skills and the GED The English learning class is geared toward immigrants and refugees who may be proficient in their native language but struggle to communicate in English. —Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024

One of them was former Palestinian refugee Imad Enchassi, now chair of Islamic Studies at Oklahoma City University, who in the turmoil would be among those in the city’s budding Muslim community to become targets of Islamophobia before the arrest of extremist and white supremacist Timothy McVeigh. —Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

The agency asked that the Dominican Republic use recognized international standards to decide the status of Haitian refugees. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

Israeli officials have also blamed the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) for a failure to distribute aid. —Charlene Gubash, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024

Jordan is home to more than 2 million Palestinian refugees, most of whom have Jordanian citizenship. —Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024

News footage soon after showed at least 47 bodies, including children, pulled from the rubble in the refugee camp. —Phil Klay, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 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)