Refuge

Definition

Refuge refers to a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. It can also denote a place providing safety or shelter.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈrɛfjuːdʒ/
• Respelling: REF-yooj (with "REF" as in "refer," and "yooj" rhyming with "rouge")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈrɛfjuːdʒ/
• Respelling: REF-yooj (similar to American English, with "REF" as in "refer," and "yooj" rhyming with "rouge")

In both dialects, "refuge" is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, "REF." The pronunciation is consistent across both American and British English, clearly articulating the word with a focus on the "REF" syllable followed by "yooj."

Etymology

Derived from the Old French word refuge, from Latin refugium, from refugere, meaning 'to flee back'.

Derivatives

• Refugee - a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
• Refugium - a geographical region that has remained unaltered by a climatic change affecting surrounding regions and that therefore forms a haven for relict fauna and flora.
• Refugeless - without refuge or shelter.
• Refuging - the act of seeking refuge.
• Refugium - an ecosystem or area where a species can escape a period of unfavourable conditions, especially glaciation.

Synonyms

• Sanctuary
• Haven
• Asylum

Antonyms

• Danger
• Exposure
• Vulnerability

Usage

Refuge is often used in contexts relating to a place of safety or shelter, such as finding refuge from a storm or providing refuge for endangered animals.

Related Terms

• Shelter
• Safe haven
• Sanctuary
• Asylum
• Protection

Detailed Definition

As a noun, 'refuge' has the following meanings:

• Shelter or Protection: A place or condition that provides safety from harm, danger, or distress.
• Asylum or Sanctuary: An institution providing safe accommodation for people in danger, such as refugees or those fleeing persecution.
• Ecological Refuge: A habitat that provides conditions for survival of an organism or population in a threatening environment.