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

Among them are World Relief Texas, a Christian humanitarian organization focused on aiding refugees and other immigrants; Catholic Charities Fort Worth; and the Junior League of Fort Worth’s MINTS program, which stands for Mentoring, Inspiring, Nurturing, Tutoring and Supporting. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025

The refugee overcame many hardships and started a trading business in 1952. —Harvard Business Review, 15 Apr. 2025

In 1989, a racially motivated school shooting at Cleveland Elementary killed four Cambodian children and one of Vietnamese descent, all children of refugees. —Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025

If Russia consolidates its hold on Ukraine today, projections suggest that up to 20 million additional refugees could be forced to flee. —Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 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)