Other forms: fugitives
A fugitive is somebody running from the law. A wanted fugitive, on the run as a fugitive, harbour a fugitive.
As an adjective it means fleeting — a fugitive thought, fugitive colours that fade in light — which is a quite different and older use. Both come from the same idea of running away. Note that the Latin fugere means to flee, the same root as refugee and fugue.
1nounfugitiveSomebody running from the law.
“The fugitive hid in the forest for weeks before the police caught him.”
2adjectivefleetingFleeting and quick to fade.
“She tried to hold on to the fugitive memory of her mother's voice.”
fugitive is a person fleeing.
Latin fugitivus comes from fugere, to flee. Refuge, refugee and fugue come from the same fleeing.
Proto-Indo-European
*bʰewg-
Latin
fugitīvus
Middle English
fugitive
English, today
fugitive
From Middle English fugitive, from Latin fugitīvus. From Middle English fugitive, fugityve, fugityf, fugitife, fugytif, fugitif, from Latin fugitīvus, from fugitō, from fugiō.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Spying & Secrecy