refugee

[ ref-yoo-jee, ref-yoo-jee ]
See synonyms for: refugeerefugees on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a person who flees for refuge or safety, especially to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc.

Origin of refugee

1
First recorded in 1675–85; from French réfugié “taken refuge,” past participle of réfugier “to take refuge”; equivalent to refuge + -ee

Other words from refugee

  • ref·u·gee·ism, noun
  • pro·ref·u·gee, adjective

Words Nearby refugee

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use refugee in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for refugee

refugee

/ (ˌrɛfjʊˈdʒiː) /


noun
    • a person who has fled from some danger or problem, esp political persecution: refugees from Rwanda

    • (as modifier): a refugee camp; a refugee problem

Derived forms of refugee

  • refugeeism, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012