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 of refugee

• 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

Created in 1969, Handala is a 10-year-old Palestinian refugee depicted in Naji al-Ali’s iconic cartoons. —Amelia Dhuga, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025

The restrictions on Afghans are part of a larger crackdown on immigration, including refugee resettlement. —Phil Helsel, NBC news, 27 Nov. 2025

Last Sunday, an Israeli strike killed a Hezbollah leader outside Beirut, and the UN said there had been more than 10,000 attacks since the ceasefire, highlighting one strike on a refugee camp last week that killed 11 children. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 27 Nov. 2025

Trump had suspended the refugee program on his first day in office in January. —Josh Boak, Fortune, 27 Nov. 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)