refugee

UK: /ˌrɛfjuːˈdʒiː/

US: /ˌrɛfjʊˈdʒi, ˈrɛfjʊˌdʒi/

US: (ref′yŏŏ jē′, ref′yŏŏ jē′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ref•u•gee /ˌrɛfyʊˈdʒi, ˈrɛfyʊˌdʒi/   n. [countable] , pl. -gees. 

1. a person who flees for refuge or safety, esp. to a foreign country, as in time of political trouble, war, etc.

See -fug-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ref•u•gee  (ref′yŏŏ jē′, ref′yŏŏ jē′), n. 

1. a person who flees for refuge or safety, esp. to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc.
2. See political refugee. 

• French réfugié, past participle of réfugier to take refuge. See refuge, -ee
• 1675–85

ref′u•gee′ism, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

refugee / ˌrɛfjʊˈdʒiː/ noun

1. a person who has fled from some danger or problem, esp political persecution
2. (as modifier): a refugee camp, the refugee crisis

ˌrefuˈgeeism noun