refugee

Noun

1. (also, attributive, figuratively) A person seeking refuge (as for shelter or protection), especially in a foreign country, out of fear or prospect of political, religious persecution, war, natural disaster, etc.
2. (broadly, derogatory) A person who is fleeing from justice, punishment deemed righteous, etc.; a runaway, a fugitive.

Verb

To convey (slaves) away from the advance of the federal forces.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹɛfjʊd͡ʒiː/

Etymology

From French réfugié, past participle of réfugier (“to take refuge, to seek refuge”), from Old French refuge (“hiding place”) from Latin refugium (“a place of refuge, place to flee back to”), originally describing French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Sense 1 was "one seeking asylum" until 1914, when it evolved to mean more generally "one fleeing home" (first applied in this sense to civilians in Flanders heading west to escape fighting in World War I). By surface analysis, refuge + -ee. Displaced native Old English flīema.

Synonyms

fugitive

exile

evacuee

displaced person

runaway

displaced persons

escapee

evacue

in need of protection

asylum seeker

displayed person

deportee

deposit

deserter

emigre

escape

immigrant

Translations

Flüchtling

réfugié

refugiado

profugo

rifugiato

vluchteling

refugiado

πρόσφυγας

uchodźca

refugiat

mülteci

penaber

uitgewekene

mihacir

miltecî