fugitive

American  

[fyoo-ji-tiv] / ˈfyu dʒɪ tɪv /

noun

1. a person who is fleeing, as from prosecution, intolerable circumstances, etc.; a runaway.

   a fugitive from justice;

   a fugitive from a dictatorial regime.

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adjective

1. having taken flight, or run away.

   The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850 that led the United States even closer to civil war.

2. fleeting; transitory; elusive.

   fugitive thoughts that could not be formulated.

   Synonyms:

   temporary, brief, flying, passing, transient

   Antonyms:

   permanent

3. Fine Arts. changing color as a result of exposure to light and chemical substances present in the atmosphere, in other pigments, or in the medium.

4. dealing with subjects of passing interest, as writings; ephemeral.

   fugitive essays.

   Synonyms:

   light, trivial, evanescent, momentary

   Antonyms:

   lasting

5. wandering, roving, or vagabond.

   a fugitive carnival.

fugitive British  

/ ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪv /

noun

1. a person who flees

2. a thing that is elusive or fleeting

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adjective

1. fleeing, esp from arrest or pursuit

2. not permanent; fleeting; transient

3. moving or roving about

Other Word Forms

• fugitively
  adverb
• fugitiveness
  noun
• fugitivity
  noun
• nonfugitive
  adjective
• nonfugitively
  adverb
• nonfugitiveness
  noun
• unfugitive
  adjective
• unfugitively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of fugitive

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin fugitīvus “fleeing,” equivalent to fugit(us) (past participle of fugere “to flee”) + -īvus adjective suffix ( see -ive); replacing Middle English fugitif, from Old French

Explanation

Someone who flees or runs away from the police to avoid capture is a fugitive. "Authorities were looking for three men who escaped from prison today. Authorities believe the three fugitives may be disguised as nuns and advise the public to be careful." Although a fugitive can specifically be someone fleeing from the police, the noun can also refer to anyone who is fleeing from an untenable situation. "The family asked for asylum in the United States because they were fugitives from their own oppressive government." As an adjective, the word can mean "fleeing or fleeting." "Many people helped the fugitive slaves to safety." "At night, he was plagued with fugitive thoughts: they seemed important when he woke from sleep, but by morning he had forgotten them."

Example Sentences

He was eventually found and arrested following a joint operation of the Texas attorney general's Fugitive Task Force and the Fort Worth Police Department.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

“At this time, the Miami Gardens Police Department is actively working with the United States Marshals’ Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend Mr. Davis,” Jeanty said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 compelled Northerners to collaborate in hunting freedom-seekers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

Franklin Pierce, although a Northerner, fiercely defended slavery while signing the Kansas-Nebraska Act and enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act; he was a drunkard to boot.

From Salon • Jul. 26, 2025

Fugitive scents wisped past his nose as he ran: oak leaves, fog, jasmine, car exhaust, ocean breeze, his own sweat.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

Related Words

• deserter
• escapee
• exile
• outcast
• outlaw
• refugee