fugitive

/ˈfjudʒɪɾɪv/

/ˈfjudʒɪtɪv/

Other forms: fugitives; fugitively

Someone who flees or runs away from the police to avoid capture is a fugitive. "Authorities were looking for three men who escaped from prison today. Authorities believe the three fugitives may be disguised as nuns and advise the public to be careful."

Although a fugitive can specifically be someone fleeing from the police, the noun can also refer to anyone who is fleeing from an untenable situation. "The family asked for asylum in the United States because they were fugitives from their own oppressive government." As an adjective, the word can mean "fleeing or fleeting." "Many people helped the fugitive slaves to safety." "At night, he was plagued with fugitive thoughts: they seemed important when he woke from sleep, but by morning he had forgotten them."

Definitions of fugitive

1. noun

   someone who is sought by law officers; someone trying to elude justice
   synonyms: fugitive from justice

   types:

   absconder

   a fugitive who runs away and hides to avoid arrest or prosecution

   escapee

   someone who escapes

   alien absconder

   a fugitive remaining in the United States after an immigration judge has ordered them deported

   type of:

   criminal, crook, felon, malefactor, outlaw

   someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
2. noun

   someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
   “fugitives from the sweatshops”

   synonyms: fleer, runaway

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
3. adjective

   lasting for a markedly brief time
   “fugitive hours”

   synonyms: fleeting, momentaneous, momentary

   short

   primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration