refugee

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

refugeeism

2 of 2

noun (2)

ref·u·gee·ism -ēˌizəm

plural -s

: the state of being a refugee

Examples of refugee in a Sentence

Noun (1) 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.

Noun

Another gives the president the power to turn away refugees seeking asylum at the border. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Hundreds of Black refugees of the violence found one another there, sharing information and aid. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026 With his visit, Leo followed in the footsteps of Francis, who made the plight of migrants and refugees a priority of his pontificate. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 With his visit, Leo followed in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who made the plight of migrants and refugees a priority of his pontificate. — ABC News, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for refugee

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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 7 Jul. 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

Noun

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 (1)

noun (2)

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

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes