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

Iran would never choose a Rasoulof movie as its official Oscar submission, but the film qualified as German thanks to its Berlin co-producers and Rasoulof’s status as a refugee there. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2025

Amer has a talent for bringing lightness to heavy topics such as asylum hearings and refugee status. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025

Amer, who stars in and executive-produces Mo, returns as his on-screen character Mo Najjar, a stateless Palestinian refugee on the journey to becoming a legal citizen. —Gabriela Silva, TVLine, 8 Jan. 2025

Arriving at the festival following screenings at Toronto and LFF, the film follows a Ukrainian family on holiday in Tenerife who struggles to reconcile their new status as refugees following the Russian invasion. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Jan. 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)