top of page

Fear and Ferocity, Law and Order, Crime and Lawlessness

deserter,exile,outlaw,pariah

eb68db_2afe942f0d984a31849d80395c51da71.mp3

criminal,deportee,escapee,evacuee,outcast,wanted

runaway, resident, stay-at-home, settler

The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook

fugitive

IPA

How to pronounce fugitive (audio)

Dictionary definition of fugitive

A person who is running away or hiding from the law, typically from arrest or prosecution.
"He was a fugitive hiding from the authorities."

Detailed meaning of fugitive

It can also refer to someone who is avoiding capture or pursuit, such as a criminal on the run, or someone who is evading military conscription. A fugitive can be a person who has committed a crime or a person who is falsely accused and is avoiding prosecution. The term implies that the person is on the run, and that they are trying to avoid arrest, prosecution, or capture.

In general, the term implies that there is a person who is running away or hiding from the law, typically from arrest or prosecution, and that they are trying to avoid capture or pursuit, whether they are criminals or falsely accused, and that they can be facing legal or military issues.

Example sentences containing fugitive

1. The fugitive slipped through the narrow alley, desperate to evade capture.
2. Law enforcement officers chased the fugitive across state lines.
3. The fugitive changed disguises frequently to avoid recognition.
4. The police set up roadblocks in an effort to apprehend the fugitive.
5. News of the fugitive's escape spread quickly throughout the city.
6. The fugitive hid in an abandoned warehouse, hoping to stay out of sight.

History and etymology of fugitive

The noun 'fugitive' has an etymology that can be traced back to Latin. It is derived from the Latin word 'fugitivus,' which is the past participle of 'fugere,' meaning 'to flee' or 'to run away.' In Latin, 'fugitivus' described something or someone that had fled or escaped. 'Fugitive' entered the English language in the 14th century and is used to describe a person who is running away or hiding from the law, typically from arrest or prosecution. Its etymology underscores the connection to flight and escape, as implied by its Latin origins in 'fugitivus,' highlighting the notion of individuals who are on the run, seeking to avoid capture or legal consequences.

Quiz: Find the meaning of fugitive

Try Again!

Correct!

Further usage examples of fugitive

1. The detective followed a trail of clues, leading him closer to the fugitive's whereabouts.
2. The fugitive's face was plastered on wanted posters across the town.
3. The fugitive's family pleaded for him to turn himself in and face the consequences.
4. The fugitive's past caught up with him when his fingerprints were found at the crime scene.
5. He became a fugitive after escaping from prison.
6. She became a fugitive after committing a crime.
7. They became fugitives after being accused of treason.
8. He was hunted by the police as a fugitive.
9. They were fugitives on the run from the law.
10. He was a notorious fugitive wanted for multiple crimes.
11. She was a former fugitive who turned herself in after years on the run.
12. They were international fugitives sought by Interpol.
13. He was a political fugitive seeking asylum in another country.
14. She was a fugitive hiding in plain sight under a false identity.
15. They were fugitives who were finally captured by the police after a long manhunt.

bottom of page