fugitive from justice

noun

: a person (such as a criminal suspect or witness) who tries to elude law enforcement especially by fleeing the jurisdiction : fugitive
… when I declare myself as her counsel, I have to surrender her or be charged with harboring a fugitive from justice.James M. Cain

Examples of fugitive from justice in a Sentence

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.
From corporate lobbying to lawfare At the core of the dispute is Allan dos Santos, a right-wing Brazilian influencer and fugitive from justice who fled to the U.S. in 2021 after De Moraes ordered his preventive arrest for allegedly coordinating disinformation networks and inciting violence. Camille Grenier, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025 When Ramirez arrived at Bradley around 5:30 p.m. he was taken into custody by troopers and transported to Troop H in Hartford where he was charged with fugitive from justice, state police said. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025 He was also charged in Massachusetts as a fugitive from justice, per NBC Boston. Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025 New York has a fugitive from justice occupying Gracie Mansion, and no clear plan for eviction. Shaun Richman, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fugitive from justice

Word History

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fugitive from justice was in 1735

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fugitive from justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fugitive%20from%20justice. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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!