fugitive

fu-gi-tive · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A person who has escaped from captivity or is in hiding, especially to avoid arrest or prosecution.

  2. 2.

    Escaping or having escaped from captivity.

  3. 3.

    (Literary) Lasting only a short time; fleeting.

Forms

plural: fugitives

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    fugitive from justice — a person who has fled to avoid prosecution
  • •
    fugitive slave — a person who escaped from slavery (historical)

Related words

Antonyms: captor, pursuer
See also: escape, flee, refugee, runaway
Synonyms: deserter, escapee, refugee, runaway

Etymology

From Latin fugitivus ("fleeing, fugitive"), from fugere ("to flee"). Entered English in the 14th century through Old French.