refugee

[ref-yoo-jee, ref-yoo-jee]

noun

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

2. political refugee.

refugee

/ ˌrɛfjʊˈdʒiː /

noun

1. 1. a person who has fled from some danger or problem, esp political persecution

      refugees from Rwanda

   2. ( as modifier )

      a refugee camp

      a refugee problem

Other Word Forms

• refugeeism noun
• prorefugee adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of refugee¹

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

Example Sentences

At the same time, a broader group of lawfully present immigrants, including refugees, will lose access to subsidized coverage through the ACA marketplace by January 2027.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A large majority of the country, including supporters of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU governing coalition, favours the tightening of migration policy and a tougher stance on Ukrainian refugees, according to opinion polls.

Read more on Barron's

The camp had originally been established in 1983 to house Afghan refugees fleeing the Soviet invasion.

Read more on BBC

A man who murdered a teenage Syrian refugee in a busy town centre street has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years.

Read more on BBC

He backed Egypt in blocking Gazan refugees and renewed the U.S. military base in Qatar for nothing in return.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• alien 
• displaced person 
• emigrant 
• evacuee 
• exile 
• expatriate 
• foreigner