fugitive

fugitive
1 of 2
adjective
fu·;gi·;tive ;fy;-j;-tiv
Synonyms of fugitive
1
: running away or intending flight
a fugitive slave
a fugitive debtor
2
: moving from place to place : wandering
the fugitive clouds of the sky
—K. K. Darrow
3
a
: being of short duration
the journalist … is concerned only with the fugitive moment
—A. L. Guerard
b
: difficult to grasp or retain : elusive
thought is clear or muddy, graspable or fugitive
—J. M. Barzun
c
: likely to evaporate, deteriorate, change, fade, or disappear
dyed with fugitive colors
4
: being of transient (see transient entry 1 sense 1) interest
fugitive essays
fugitively adverb
fugitiveness noun
fugitive

2 of 2
noun
1
: a person who flees or tries to escape: such as
a
: a person who flees a country or location to escape danger (such as war) or persecution : refugee
b
: a person (such as a suspect, witness, or defendant) involved in a criminal case who tries to elude law enforcement especially by fleeing the jurisdiction
 called also fugitive from justice

2
: something elusive or hard to find


Did you know?
Fugitive entered English as both a noun and an adjective in the 14th century, coming ultimately from the Latin verb fugere, meaning “to flee.” As a noun, it originally referred, as it still does today, to someone who flees a country or location to escape persecution or danger, as from war, making it synonymous with another fugere descendent, refugee. The noun soon expanded beyond those fleeing peril to individuals (such as suspects, witnesses, or defendants) trying to elude law enforcement especially by fleeing the pertinent jurisdiction. The adjective fugitive describes those literally running away or intending flight, but also has multiple figurative uses, being applied to that which is elusive, of short duration, or of transient interest, among other things.

Synonyms
Adjective

elusive
Choose the Right Synonym for fugitive

transient, transitory, ephemeral, momentary, fugitive, fleeting, evanescent mean lasting or staying only a short time.

transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests
transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.

fame in the movies is transitory
ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral
momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.

my feelings of guilt were only momentary
fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face
fleeting moments of joy
evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation
Examples of fugitive in a Sentence
Adjective
As he daydreamed, fugitive thoughts passed through his mind.
that fugitive trait called artistic creativity
Noun
They discovered that he was a fugitive of the law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More
Adjective
Numerous local, state and federal agencies have continued to comb the wilderness for the fugitive father while experiencing several environmental hurdles, according to Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
That kind of stroke of fortune is often what solves a missing fugitive case.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 28 June 2025
Noun
Harsh terrain and conditions present challenges in the search Morrison, the sheriff, told USA TODAY that law enforcement has faced environmental challenges while hunting the fugitive.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 1 July 2025
Survivalist avoided capture for years A trail gone cold in a wooded area is not always a sign that the fugitive has completely given up.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 28 June 2025

Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French fugitif, from Latin fugitivus, from fugitus, past participle of fugere to flee; akin to Greek pheugein to flee

First Known Use
Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fugitive was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century
Phrases Containing fugitive
fugitive from justice
Browse Nearby Words
fugitation
fugitive
fugitive from justice
Articles Related to fugitive
The Origin of 'Refugee'
The word originally referred to the Huguenots

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MLA
“Fugitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fugitive. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.

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Kids Definition
fugitive

1 of 2
adjective
fu·;gi·;tive ;fy;-j;t-;iv
1
: running away or trying to run away
a fugitive suspect
2
: lasting a very short time : not fixed or lasting
fugitive thoughts
fugitively adverb
fugitive

2 of 2
noun
1
: a person who runs away or tries to escape
especially : refugee
2
: something that is hard to find
Etymology
Noun

Middle English fugitif, fugitive "one who is running away," from early French fugitif and Latin fugitivus (both, same meaning), from Latin fugitus, past participle of fugere "to run away, flee" — related to centrifugal, refugee


Medical Definition
fugitive

adjective
fu·;gi·;tive ;fy;-j;t-iv
: tending to be inconstant or transient
fugitive aches and pains
—Berton Roueche
Legal Definition
fugitive

noun
fu·;gi·;tive ;fy;-j;-tiv
: a person who flees
especially : a person who flees one jurisdiction (as a state) for another in order to elude law enforcement personnel
More from Merriam-Webster on fugitive
Nglish: Translation of fugitive for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fugitive

Last Updated: 17 Jul 2025 - Updated Did you know?
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