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

The film explores the injustice and terror perpetrated at the Polish-Belarusian border from the perspective of refugees, Polish activists and border guards. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023

Juliette Touma, spokeswoman for the agency for Palestinian refugees, said 120,000 liters (31,700 gallons) of fuel arrived, meant to last for two days, after Israel agreed Friday to allow in that amount for the U.N.'s use. —Najib Jobain, Bassem Mroue, and Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Nov. 2023

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said a number of people were killed in a strike on a building in the Balata refugee camp. —NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023

In the decades that followed, there was a large influx of Jewish refugees from Europe as many fled Nazi persecution under Hitler and, during World War II, the Holocaust. —Daniel Wolfe, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023

In August, the Department of Justice sued the company for discriminating against legal asylum seekers and refugees in hiring, a violation of U.S. law. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023

But Haley's response has been repeatedly mischaracterized by the DeSantis campaign, and now by Scott, in recent weeks despite the fact that during the same interview, Haley said nothing about resettling Palestinian refugees in the United States. —Abby Cruz, ABC News, 11 Nov. 2023

Last Updated: Live Coverage Feed 1 hour ago Israel Strikes Sites Inside Gaza Refugee Camp Israel’s navy hit Hamas targets in Gaza overnight, including weapons depots and military objectives inside the Al-Shati refugee camp that had been identified by ground troops, the Israel Defense Forces said. —Eric Sylvers, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2023

Among those killed are more than 100 staff members of a United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and at least 40 journalists and other media workers, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. —Neil Collier, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2023

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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)