fugitive

American  

[fyoo-ji-tiv] / ˈfju dʒɪ tɪv /

noun

• fugitives
  plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fugitives
  plural

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

See Examples For:

fugitive fugitives

Cole, whom news reports are calling a cop killer and a fugitive, is a British former Marine and police officer with a shadowy past that brought an abrupt end to his career in uniform.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

The fugitive Aegon experienced what it was like to be a boot-licking commoner.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

The story of Nicholas Rossi, the US fugitive who came to the UK with a new identity after faking his own death.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

Bolivia's government threatened to capture Morales and intervene in Chapare, where he is a fugitive on charges of allegedly trafficking a minor.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

He was a fugitive, taking advantage of the kindness of the monks.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

"Let this be a stern warning to criminals across the world, that South Africa is not a hide-out for fugitives," said Mathe, speaking to reporters.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Since 1968, federal law has prohibited gun possession by felons, fugitives and other persons deemed to be dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

The author’s mother and father went into hiding and had their first child, Mr. Dohrn, in 1977, while they were living as fugitives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

The country’s colorful past includes dictators, Nazi fugitives and presidents toppled in protests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

Justice Department official warned that there were more fugitives hiding out in the Osage Hills than “perhaps any other county in the state or any state in the Union.”

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

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