fugitive from justice

noun

: a person (such as a criminal suspect or witness) who tries to elude law enforcement especially by fleeing the jurisdiction : fugitive
… when I declare myself as her counsel, I have to surrender her or be charged with harboring a fugitive from justice.James M. Cain

Examples of fugitive from justice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
National, out-of-state Republicans have issued statements on the arrest of this fugitive from justice in Massachusetts. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 23 July 2025 One of the defendants is currently in prison, and another is a fugitive from justice. Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 Medina-Perez, deported twice previously, had been arrested on drug charges, while there was a warrant out of Pennsylvania for the defendant as a fugitive from justice. Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 June 2025 He was charged with being a fugitive from justice, the New Hampshire Department of Justice said. Kerry Breen june 18, CBS News, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fugitive from justice

Word History

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fugitive from justice was in 1735

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fugitive from justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fugitive%20from%20justice. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!