refugee

[ ref-yoo-jee, ref-yoo-jee ]
/ ˌrɛf yʊˈdʒi, ˈrɛf yʊˌdʒi /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR refugee ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Origin of refugee

1675–85; < French réfugié, past participle of réfugier to take refuge. See refuge, -ee

OTHER WORDS FROM refugee

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

Words nearby refugee

refsum's disease, reft, refudiate, refuel, refuge, refugee, refugee capital, refugees, refugium, refulgent, refund

Words related to refugees

foreigner, alien, exile, expatriate, emigrant, evacuee, castaway, renegade, deserter, foundling, outlaw, fugitive, outcast, defector, escapee, leper, prodigal, maroon, derelict, runaway

Example sentences from the Web for refugees

British Dictionary definitions for refugees

refugee
/ (ˌrɛfjʊˈdʒiː) /

noun

  1. a person who has fled from some danger or problem, esp political persecutionrefugees from Rwanda
  2. (as modifier)a refugee camp; a refugee problem

Derived forms of refugee

refugeeism, noun

Cultural definitions for refugees

refugees

People who flee a nation, often to escape punishment for their political affiliations or for political dissent.