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

According to the State Department, in the last five years, the United States has admitted about 9,000 Somali refugees, many of whom later became eligible to apply for green cards and eventually for citizenship. —Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 5 Dec. 2025

Mary and Joseph travelled as required by Caesar’s census requirement, NOT refugees. —Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025

Compassionate telling of a refugee family from Vietnam finding their way in Connecticut, particularly the young narrator, who after attempting suicide ends up caring for a Lithuanian woman with dementia. —Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2025

While Jerusalem has maintained a neutral stance in Russia’s war against Ukraine—providing humanitarian aid but no weapons—the fate of Ukrainian refugees inside Israel remains unresolved. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 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)