evacuee
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of evacuee
1935–40; < French évacué, past participle of évacuer to evacuate; see -ee
Explanation
If a person is rescued and removed from a dangerous place, they are an evacuee. During World War II, many evacuees were moved from dense cities to the countryside. When someone is evacuated, or taken away from an unsafe location, that person becomes an evacuee. If an entire family is rescued from a burning building by firefighters, they are all evacuees. Most evacuees have been saved from immediate physical harm, whether from dangerous chemicals, fire, or war. The Latin root is evacuare, "to clear out."
Vocabulary lists containing evacuee
"Simplexity," Vocabulary from the science writing
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Scrabble: Words with 5 Vowels
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 28–September 3, 2021
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Another evacuee, 77-year-old Pedro Llorente, needs no convincing.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
"We have no grain left" to feed the animals, one evacuee, Ibrahim Bernous, 32, told AFP at a camp.
From Barron's ● Feb. 13, 2026
“I’m an unhoused evacuee, but I’m doing quite well,” Satyananda said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2025
An evacuee speaking at the scene described the fires as "armageddon".
From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2025
"Things could have turned ugly but it still is nice to be back here," a French evacuee who gave his name as Charles told Reuters TV.
From Reuters ● Aug. 2, 2023
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
