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 March, and the Madrid Accords agreement between Spain, Morocco and Mauretania that followed, signified regime change and the forceful displacement of majority of Sahrawis, many of whom now live in refugee camps in Algeria. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025

The processing of Afrikaners granted refugee status has also been unusually fast. —May 9, CBS News, 9 May 2025

Former Afghan football captain Khalida Popal speaks out on her country's fall to the Taliban 05:08 FIFA creates pathway to Afghan women’s refugee team FIFA also announced its strategy for action regarding women’s soccer in Afghanistan, which envisions the creation of an Afghan women’s refugee team. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 9 May 2025

Others languished in refugee camps in Austria and Italy before resettlement. —Masha Rumer, Mercury News, 8 May 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)