refugee
noun /ˌrefjuˈdʒiː/
/ˌrefjuˈdʒiː/
- a person who has been forced to leave their country or home, because there is a war or for political, religious or social reasons
- There has been a steady flow of refugees from the war zone.
- political/economic refugees
- a refugee camp
Collocations Race and immigrationRace and immigrationPrejudice and racism- experience/encounter racism/discrimination/prejudice/anti-semitism
- face/suffer persecution/discrimination
- fear/escape from/flee racial/political/religious persecution
- constitute/be a form of racial/race discrimination
- reflect/reveal/show/have a racial/cultural bias
- be biased/be prejudiced against (especially British English) black people/(both especially North American English) people of color/African Americans/Asians/Africans/Indians, etc.
- discriminate against minority groups/minorities
- perpetuate/conform to/fit/defy a common/popular/traditional/negative stereotype
- overcome/be blinded by deep-seated/racial/(especially North American English) race prejudice
- entrench/perpetuate racist attitudes
- hurl/shout (especially British English) racist abuse; (especially North American English) a racist/racial/ethnic slur
- challenge/confront racism/discrimination/prejudice
- combat/fight (against)/tackle blatant/overt/covert/subtle/institutional/systemic racism
- damage/improve (especially British English) race relations
- practise (racial/religious) tolerance/segregation
- bridge/break down/transcend cultural/racial barriers
- encourage/promote social integration
- outlaw/end discrimination/slavery/segregation
- promote/embrace/celebrate cultural diversity
- conform to/challenge/violate (accepted/established/prevailing/dominant) social/cultural norms
- live in a multicultural society
- attack/criticize multiculturalism
- fight for/struggle for/promote racial equality
- perpetuate/reinforce economic and social inequality
- introduce/be for/be against (British English) positive discrimination/(especially North American English) affirmative action
- support/be active in/play a leading role in the civil rights movement
- control/restrict/limit/encourage immigration
- attract/draw a wave of immigrants
- assist/welcome refugees
- house/shelter refugees and asylum seekers
- smuggle illegal immigrants into the UK
- deport/repatriate illegal immigrants/failed asylum seekers
- assimilate/integrate new immigrants
- employ/hire migrant workers
- exploit/rely on (cheap/illegal) immigrant labour
- apply for/gain/obtain/be granted/be denied (full) citizenship
- have/hold dual citizenship
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a war- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
- accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
Synonyms immigrantimmigrant- migrant
- refugee
- asylum seeker
- expatriate
- immigrant a person who has either chosen or been forced to leave their country and come to live permanently in a country that is not their own:
- immigrants from other European countries
- migrant a person who moves from one place to another in order to find work or better living conditions:
- The country has a large seasonal migrant population.
- refugee a person who has been forced to leave their country or home, because there is a war or for political, religious or social reasons:
- There has been a steady flow of refugees from the war zone.
- asylum seeker a person who has been forced to leave their own country because they are in danger and who arrives in another country asking to be allowed to stay there:
- to provide accommodation and support for asylum seekers
- expatriate a person living in a country that is not their own, usually by choice:
- American expatriates in Paris
- illegal/undocumented immigrants/migrants
- economic/skilled migrants
- political refugees
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictb2, Social issuesb2- A flood of displaced refugees fled west.
- He does not qualify for refugee status.
- He was born in a refugee camp.
- Hundreds of refugees are pouring over the border.
- Many claimed to be environmental refugees, leaving for the sake of their health.
- Only nine per cent were found to be genuine political refugees.
- She has been refused refugee status.
- The Home Office has refused him refugee status.
- The government has agreed to take only 150 refugees plus their dependants.
- The refugee flows alone would be a huge upheaval.
- They should be considered economic refugees.
- Those who did not qualify as refugees were returned to their home countries.
- Unemployment among the refugees has risen sharply.
- a new influx of refugees from the combat zone
- refugees displaced by the civil war
- refugees fleeing political persecution
- refugees from civil wars
- refugees living in camps along the border
- the government's strategy in dealing with would-be refugees
- Several thousand refugees are reported to have fled to the eastern border.
- The country has a long tradition of giving asylum to political refugees.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- genuine
- would-be
- former
- …
- qualify as
- be considered (as)
- accept
- …
- flee something
- be displaced
- arrive
- …
- crisis
- issue
- problem
- …
- among refugee
- refugee from
- a flood of refugees
- a influx of refugees
- the flow of refugees
- …
Word Originlate 17th cent.: from French réfugié ‘gone in search of refuge’, past participle of (se) réfugier, from refuge, from Latin refugium, from Latin re- ‘back’ + fugere ‘flee’.