ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fugitive

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfjudʒətɪv// UK //fjˈuːdʒɪtˌɪv// fugi·tive

n. a person who is hiding because the police want to arrest them. You use this word for someone who has run away to avoid being caught.

n. a person who has escaped from custody or is hiding to avoid arrest.


SIMPLE

The fugitive hid in the forest for weeks.

CONTEXTUAL

Police released a sketch of the fugitive to help the public identify him.

COMPLEX

The fugitive remained at large for months, evading capture through a series of clever disguises and careful movements.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English fugitive, fugityve, fugityf, fugitife, fugytif, fugitif, from Latin fugitīvus.

© 2026 English Reference