refugee

noun

ref·u·gee ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē

ˈre-fyu̇-ˌjē

Synonyms of refugee

: one that flees

especially : a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution

refugeeism

ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē-ˌi-zəm

ˈre-fyu̇-ˌjē-

noun

Examples of refugee in a Sentence

Thousands of refugees have fled the area. refugees began returning to their homeland after years of political unrest and war

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Along the road, however, they are suddenly met with a trickle, and then a flood of refugees. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Between 2020 and 2025, fewer than 90 Tibetans were received as refugees in India, the Central Tibetan Administration, Tibet’s government in exile, told CNN. — CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 The beloved spice blend was invented in 1940 by Gustav Brunn, a German Jewish refugee who fled Nazi persecution and landed in Baltimore. — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 31 July 2026 People have sold personal belongings, like their cars, to afford services that turn out to be bogus, said Christopher Ross, who oversees migration and refugee resettlement services at Catholic Charities USA. — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for refugee

Word History

Etymology

French réfugié, past participle of (se) réfugier to take refuge, from Middle French refugier, from Latin refugium

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of refugee was in 1685

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

refuge

refugee

refugeeism

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to refugee

Cite this Entry

Style

“Refugee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refugee. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

refugee

noun

ref·u·gee ˌref-yu̇-ˈjē

ˈref-yu̇-ˌjē

: a person who flees for safety especially to a foreign country

Etymology

from French réfugié, past participle of réfugier "to put in a place of safety," from Latin refugium "a refuge," from refugere "to run away from, escape," from re- "again, against" and fugere "to run away, flee" — related to centrifugal, fugitive

Legal Definition

refugee

noun

ref·u·gee ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē

: an individual seeking refuge or asylum

especially : an individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution (as because of race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion)

refugee

noun

Synonyms of refugee

Examples of refugee in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Must an 'Immigrant' Also Be an...

The Origin of 'Refugee'

Word of the Year Retrospective

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on refugee

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

élan

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes