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 ( -ive ); replacing Middle English fugitif, from Old French

Example Sentences

He launched an ambitious programme to seek justice against the ousted regime, and Hasina -- now a convicted fugitive in hiding in India -- was sentenced in absentia to death for crimes against humanity.

From Barron's

He was chased down as a fugitive aboard a Turkish steamer, returned to the U.S. for trial—and acquitted.

From The Wall Street Journal

Shortly after his arrest it was revealed that San Diego was one of America's most wanted fugitives and had featured five times on the Fox programme America's Most Wanted.

From BBC

The U.S., considering him a fugitive, was seeking his extradition from Spain, and he was likely looking at prison.

From Salon

Aliens in this context are fugitives from justice, and the Eighth U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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