/ ˌrefjuˈdʒiː; NAmE / noun
a person who has been forced to leave their country or home, because there is a war or for political, religious or social reasons :
a steady flow of refugees from the war zone
political / economic refugees
a refugee camp
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WORD ORIGIN
late 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.