refugee
noun
ref·u·gee
ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē 
ˈre-fyu̇-ˌjē
: one that flees
especially
: a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution
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
Among them are World Relief Texas, a Christian humanitarian organization focused on aiding refugees and other immigrants; Catholic Charities Fort Worth; and the Junior League of Fort Worth’s MINTS program, which stands for Mentoring, Inspiring, Nurturing, Tutoring and Supporting.
—
Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
The refugee overcame many hardships and started a trading business in 1952.
—Harvard Business Review, 15 Apr. 2025
In 1989, a racially motivated school shooting at Cleveland Elementary killed four Cambodian children and one of Vietnamese descent, all children of refugees.
—Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
If Russia consolidates its hold on Ukraine today, projections suggest that up to 20 million additional refugees could be forced to flee.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refugee
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Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
The refugee overcame many hardships and started a trading business in 1952.
—Harvard Business Review, 15 Apr. 2025
In 1989, a racially motivated school shooting at Cleveland Elementary killed four Cambodian children and one of Vietnamese descent, all children of refugees.
—Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
If Russia consolidates its hold on Ukraine today, projections suggest that up to 20 million additional refugees could be forced to flee.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refugee
Cite this Entry
“Refugee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refugee. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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)
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