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⇱ fugitive - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

fugitive

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪv/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈfjudʒɪtɪv/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(fyo̅o̅′ji tiv)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fu•gi•tive /ˈfyudʒɪtɪv/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a person who is fleeing, as from prosecution or capture:a fugitive from justice.

adj. [before a noun]
  1. running away:a fugitive convict.
  2. fleeting;
    elusive:fugitive thoughts.
See -fug-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
fu•gi•tive  (fyo̅o̅′ji tiv),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a person who is fleeing, from prosecution, intolerable circumstances, etc.;
    a runaway:a fugitive from justice; a fugitive from a dictatorial regime.

adj. 
  1. having taken flight, or run away:a fugitive slave.
  2. fleeting;
    transitory;
    elusive:fugitive thoughts that could not be formulated.
  3. Fine Artchanging 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.
  5. wandering, roving, or vagabond:a fugitive carnival.
  • Old French
  • Latin fugitīvus fleeing, equivalent. to fugit(us) (past participle of fugere to flee) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English fugitif
  • 1350–1400
fu′gi•tive•ly, adv. 
fu′gi•tive•ness, fu′gi•tiv′i•ty, n. 
    3. transient, passing, flitting, flying, brief, temporary. 5. momentary, evanescent, trivial, light. 6. straying, roaming.
    3. 4. permanent. 5. lasting.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
fugitive /ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪv/ n
  1. a person who flees
  2. a thing that is elusive or fleeting
 adj
  1. fleeing, esp from arrest or pursuit
  2. not permanent; fleeting; transient
Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin fugitīvus fleeing away, from fugere to take flight, run awayˈfugitively adv
'fugitive' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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