refugee

1 of 2

noun (1)

ref·u·gee ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē

ˈre-fyu̇-ˌjē

Synonyms of refugee

: 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

refugeeism

2 of 2

noun (2)

ref·u·gee·ism -ēˌizəm

plural -s

: the state of being a refugee

Examples of refugee in a Sentence

Noun (1) 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

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Noun

Separately, the Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank said a 14-year-old in the Askar refugee camp in Nablus was shot dead by Israeli forces, which did not immediately comment. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Has a county government spent any tax dollars recently on flying refugees from Texas to Connecticut? — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026 In 2026, measles epidemics have been reported in countries experiencing armed conflict or housing refugees displaced by war, such as Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. — Kathryn H. Jacobsen, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026 Liberian officials have framed the arrangement as consistent with the country’s history of welcoming refugees. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refugee

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French réfugié, past participle of (se) réfugier to take refuge, from Middle French refugier, from Latin refugium

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1685, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of refugee was in 1685

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Style

“Refugee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refugee. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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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

Noun

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)

refugee

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms of refugee

Examples of refugee in a Sentence

Word History

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