/ ˈfjuːdʒətɪv; NAmE / noun , adjective
■ noun
fugitive (from sb/sth) a person who has escaped or is running away from somewhere and is trying to avoid being caught :
a fugitive from justice
■ adjective [ only before noun ]
1.
trying to avoid being caught :
a fugitive criminal
2.
( literary ) lasting only for a very short time
SYN fleeting :
a fugitive idea / thought
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French fugitif , -ive , from Latin fugitivus , from fugere flee.