refugeenoun [ C ]
uk/ˌref.juˈdʒiː/us/ˌref.jəˈdʒiː/B2 a person who has escaped from their own country for political, religious, or economic reasons or because of a war:
Thousands of refugees fled across the border.
More examples
- He had to show that he had a well-founded fear of persecution on religious or political grounds to qualify as a refugee.
- We have been tasked with setting up camps for refugees.
- The refugees were packed shoulder to shoulder on the boat.
- Many refugees have arrived at the border without passports.
- We have only a small amount of food and clothing to deal out to each refugee.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Runaways and refugees
- abscond
- boat people
- defect
- deserter
- displaced person
- escapee
- escapism
- evacuee
- fugitive
- political asylum
- refugee camp
- runaway
- transit camp