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

Over a decade ago, the Department of Defense warned that climate change would exacerbate natural disasters, refugee crises, and resource conflicts. —Anjali Chaudhry, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025

Bright bursts of color: Born into war, Abdi finds peace in a refugee camp Abdi came to a Kenyan refugee camp in the arms of her mother, a baby born to a country at war. —Courtney Crowder, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025

Marked by his characteristic defiance and artistic audacity, with costumes and staging referencing his own art, Ai’s production transforms the iconic opera into a powerful statement on contemporary issues, weaving in themes of war, refugee crises and the pandemic. —Lise Pedersen, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025

In the letter, Khalil also described his background, noting that he was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria after his family was displaced in the 1948 Nakba. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 19 Mar. 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)