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

Derived Forms

• ˌrefuˈgeeism, noun

Other Words From

• refu·geeism noun
• proref·u·gee 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

She is also known for her advocacy work for refugees, becoming a goodwill ambassador for the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees in 2015 in West and Central Africa.

From BBC

One Eritrean refugee, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said he was arrested after someone heard him speaking Tigrinya - a language used in Eritrea, as well as Ethiopia's Tigray region.

From BBC

“Only in America can you go from refugees fleeing with nothing but the clothes on your back to becoming a member of Congress in just one generation,” Tran said in a post on X.

From Los Angeles Times

Migrant arrivals had been steadily declining since August 2023, but increased again since summer, according to data from United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.

From BBC

There have been violent riots and arson attacks on sites meant to house, or rumoured to house, asylum seekers, and refugees have been attacked in their tents on Dublin’s streets.

From BBC

Related Words

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