Refugee \Ref`u*gee"\ (r?f`?*j?"), n. [F. r['e]fugi['e], fr. se r['e]fugier to take refuge. See Refuge, n.]

1. One who flees to a shelter, or place of safety.

2. Especially, one who, in times of persecution or political commotion, flees to a foreign power or country for safety; as, the French refugees who left France after the revocation of the edict of Nantes.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)