Refugee

/ˌrɛfjuˈdʒi/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

After the civil war broke out, thousands became refugees, fleeing to neighboring countries.

A person seeking refuge or safety in another country.

The government has been providing assistance to refugees arriving from conflict zones.

Someone who has been displaced by factors such as violence, discrimination, or political oppression.

International organizations are working to support refugees and provide them with essential services.

From the French 'réfugié', meaning 'a refugee', derived from the Latin 'refugium' meaning 'a flying back, refuge'.

refugee camp

A temporary settlement for refugees.

political refugee

A person who flees their country for political reasons.

economic refugee

A person who leaves their country to seek better economic opportunities.

asylum

Protection granted by a nation to someone who has fled their home country.

displacement

The process of being forced to leave one's home or country.

persecution

Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.

A term used for someone who is seen as a wanderer or drifter due to their refugee status.

After a long journey, he felt like a refugee in his own life.

Used colloquially to describe someone who is in an unstable living situation.

She felt like a refugee after moving from one friend's couch to another.