fugitive

[fyoo-ji-tiv]

noun

1. a person who is fleeing, as from prosecution, intolerable circumstances, etc.; a runaway.

   a fugitive from justice;

   a fugitive from a dictatorial regime.

adjective

1. having taken flight, or run away.

   The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850 that led the United States even closer to civil war.

2. fleeting; transitory; elusive.

   fugitive thoughts that could not be formulated.

   Synonyms: temporary, brief, flying, passing, transient
   Antonyms: permanent

3. Fine Arts.,  changing color as a result of exposure to light and chemical substances present in the atmosphere, in other pigments, or in the medium.

4. dealing with subjects of passing interest, as writings; ephemeral.

   fugitive essays.

   Synonyms: light, trivial, evanescent, momentary
   Antonyms: lasting

5. wandering, roving, or vagabond.

   a fugitive carnival.

fugitive

/ ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪv /

noun

1. a person who flees

2. a thing that is elusive or fleeting

adjective

1. fleeing, esp from arrest or pursuit

2. not permanent; fleeting; transient

3. moving or roving about

Other Word Forms

• fugitiveness noun
• fugitively adverb
• fugitivity noun
• nonfugitive adjective
• nonfugitively adverb
• nonfugitiveness noun
• unfugitive adjective
• unfugitively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fugitive¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin fugitīvus “fleeing,” equivalent to fugit(us) (past participle of fugere “to flee”) + -īvus adjective suffix ( -ive ); replacing Middle English fugitif, from Old French

Word History and Origins

Origin of fugitive¹

C14: from Latin fugitīvus fleeing away, from fugere to take flight, run away

Example Sentences

The daughter of a Nazi fugitive is under house arrest after a search of her property failed to find a long-lost stolen painting.

From BBC

A fugitive who allegedly murdered two officers in a small rural town in Australia's Victoria is being helped by some members of the community, police have said.

From BBC

The privately-educated Liverpool man described as white, of broad build with ginger hair, blue eyes and a small scar on the left side of his head, is considered one of Britain's most wanted fugitives.

From BBC

A £10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of a man described as one of Britain's most wanted fugitives in connection with two murders more than 20 years ago.

From BBC

A "dangerous" fugitive who savagely murdered a woman while she was walking her dog has been jailed for life.

From BBC

Related Words

• deserter 
• escapee 
• exile 
• outcast 
• outlaw 
• refugee