The difference between Asylum and Refugee

When used as nouns, asylum means a place of safety, whereas refugee means a person seeking refuge in a foreign country out of fear of political persecution or the prospect of such persecution in his home country, i.e., a person seeking a political asylum.


Refugee is also verb with the meaning: to convey (slaves) away from the advance of the federal forces.

check bellow for the other definitions of Asylum and Refugee

  1. Asylum as a noun:

    A place of safety.

  2. Asylum as a noun:

    The protection, physical and legal, afforded by such a place.

  3. Asylum as a noun (dated):

    A place of protection or restraint for one or more classes of the disadvantaged, especially the mentally ill.

  1. Refugee as a noun:

    A person seeking refuge in a foreign country out of fear of political persecution or the prospect of such persecution in his home country, i.e., a person seeking a political asylum.

  2. Refugee as a noun:

    A person seeking refuge due to a natural disaster.

  3. Refugee as a noun:

    A person formally granted a political or economic asylum by a country other than his home country.

  1. Refugee as a verb (transitive, US, historical):

    To convey (slaves) away from the advance of the federal forces.