fugitive
1 of 2adjective
K. K. Darrow A. L. Guerard J. M. Barzunfugitive
2 of 2noun
called also fugitive from justice
Did you know?
Fugitive was adopted into English as both a noun and an adjective in the 14th century from the Latin adjective fugitivus, which itself comes from the verb fugere, meaning “to flee.”
Synonyms
Adjective
- elusive
- evasive
- slippery
Example Sentences
Jozsef Papp, ajc, 4 Aug. 2022 Local authorities in San Diego enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshals in Dec. 2016 to join the manhunt and lead the fugitive investigation for McLeod. Haleigh Kochanski, The Arizona Republic, 30 Aug. 2022 Miami-Dade County Corrections Department records showed that the 6-foot-7 player — booked under his full, legal name Taurean Louis Waller-Prince — was picked up as a fugitive subject to extradition. David K. Li, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022 Revealing footage and interviews uncover new layers of fugitive tech pioneer John McAfee's wild years on the run. Travis Bean, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 This documentary compiles revealing footage and interviews with fugitive programmer John McAfee to reveal new information about his years on the run. Olivia Mccormack, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 March 14, 2012 - Greig pleads guilty to one charge of conspiracy to harbor a fugitive and two counts of identity theft. CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 The actor best known for his role as outlaw motorcycle club member Jax Teller on the FX drama can now be seen for the first time as fugitive Lin Ford in Apple's upcoming Shantaram. Nick Romano, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2022 Texas authorities are looking into medical records of Austin murder suspect and former fugitive Kaitlin Armstrong, who is accused of shooting the pro cyclist Anna Moriah ‘Mo’ Wilson in May, according to court records. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 29 July 2022 John H. Tucker, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 Polanski has been a fugitive since 1978, living mostly in France. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 July 2022 Michael Ray Tillman, 24, was indicted on a first-degree murder charge after he was arrested as a fugitive in Bismarck, North Dakota, according to the district attorney's office in Shelby County, Tennessee. Fox News, 1 July 2022 Officers from local, state, and federal agencies on Tuesday arrested Daronde Bethea, 30, of Brockton, a fugitive wanted on charges including robbery, home invasion, and assault charges, the Boston Police Department said in a statement. Grace Gilson, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2022 El Salvadoran enforcement authorities have arrested Raymond McLeod, 37, a fugitive wanted by the San Diego Police Department for the 2016 murder of Krystal Mitchell, 30, from Phoenix. Haleigh Kochanski, The Arizona Republic, 30 Aug. 2022 John Tucker reports that the board has now proposed a new policy that would require officers to confirm the existence of an arrest warrant before stopping a fugitive. Mike Rose, cleveland, 10 Aug. 2022 Once a fugitive from US forces that sought to arrest him in Iraq, Sadr was believed to have been hiding in Iran from 2007. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 1 Aug. 2022 Much of the film’s action is set in Vietnam, where Lee’s character Ma Seok-do travels to repatriate a fugitive, and while in the country uncovers a crime nest. Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 July 2022 See More Word History
Adjective and Noun
Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French fugitif, from Latin fugitivus, from fugitus, past participle of fugere to flee; akin to Greek pheugein to flee
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing fugitive
Kids Definition
fugitive 1 of 2
adjective
fugitive
2 of 2noun
Medical Definition
fugitive
adjective
Berton Roueche Legal Definition
fugitive
noun
fugitive 1 of 2
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- elusive
- transient
- evasive
- temporary
- slippery
- transitory
- fleeting
- shifty
- ephemeral
- evanescent
- passing
- unobtainable
- momentary
- inaccessible
- cagy
- cagey
- unattainable
- unreachable
- unavailable
- short-lived
- untouchable
- unapproachable
- impermanent
- inconvenient
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- available
- obtainable
- attainable
- convenient
- accessible
- reachable
- approachable
Synonyms & Similar Words
- flash
- transient
- temporary
- passing
- transitory
- brief
- ephemeral
- fleeting
- evanescent
- fugacious
- momentary
- deciduous
- short-lived
- impermanent
- little
- short
- acting
- interim
- provisional
- short-term
- shortish
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permanent
- eternal
- immortal
- enduring
- perpetual
- deathless
- everlasting
- undying
- lifelong
- timeless
- lasting
- unending
- persistent
- endless
- ceaseless
- long-lived
- durable
- indestructible
- dateless
- continuing
- imperishable
- indefectible
Synonyms & Similar Words
- nomadic
- nomad
- vagabond
- peregrine
- vagrant
- roaming
- roving
- migrant
- itinerant
- peripatetic
- wayfaring
- wandering
- ranging
- ambulatory
- ambulant
- gallivanting
- galavanting
- migratory
- errant
- perambulatory
- walking
- on the move
- meandering
- drifting
- footloose
- rambling
- traipsing
- sauntering
- strolling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stationary
- static
- motionless
- standing
- immobile
- settled
- nonmoving
- still
fugitive
2 of 2noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- refugee
- alien
- émigré
- exile
- emigré
- deportee
- expatriate
- outcast
- patriot
- evacuee
- loyalist
- pariah
- expat
- castoff
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of fugitive are ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, momentary, transient, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.
The meanings of ephemeral and fugitive largely overlap; however, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.
In some situations, the words evanescent and fugitive are roughly equivalent. However, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.
While in some cases nearly identical to fugitive, momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.
The words transient and fugitive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.
The words transitory and fugitive can be used in similar contexts, but transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.