refugee

noun

ref·​u·​gee ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē How to pronounce refugee (audio)
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 How to pronounce refugee (audio)
ˈre-fyu̇-ˌjē-
noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Renegotiate international refugee rules to provide protections for people displaced by climate change and welcome them to the U.S. Install a climate envoy in every major embassy around the world. Alex Thompson, Axios, 3 Nov. 2024 If the refugees’ needs continue to go unmet, Hezbollah could lose support. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024 This transformation has been happening for decades across the 58 refugee camps run by UNRWA in the Palestinian territories and elsewhere in the region, as tent camps became residential blocks. Mick Krever, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024 Some refugees have fled their homes only to stumble into even more dangerous places. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for refugee 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of refugee was in 1685

Dictionary Entries Near refugee

Cite this Entry

“Refugee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refugee. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

refugee

noun
ref·​u·​gee ˌref-yu̇-ˈjē How to pronounce refugee (audio)
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 How to pronounce refugee (audio)
: 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)

More from Merriam-Webster on refugee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!