# refuge

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹɛfjuːd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #8,193

## Definitions
1. A state of safety, protection or shelter.
2. A place providing safety, protection or shelter.
3. Something or someone turned to for safety or assistance; a recourse or resort.
4. An expedient to secure protection or defence.
5. A refuge island.

## Etymology
From Middle English refuge, from Old French refuge, from Latin refugium, from re- + fugiō (“flee”). Doublet of refugium.

## Easily confused with
- **rouge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-rouge)
- **reuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-reuse)
- **revue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-revue)
- **refuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-refuse)
- **refund** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-refund)
- **refute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-refute)
- **résumé** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-resume)
- **repute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-repute)
- **refused** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-refused)
- **refugee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-refugee)
- **refugees** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-refugees)
- **reduce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reduce-vs-refuge)
- **refine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refine-vs-refuge)
- **rebuke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rebuke-vs-refuge)
- **refuel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuel-vs-refuge)

## Common misspellings (8)
`erfuge`, `reffuge`, `refgue`, `refueg`, `refugge`, `reufge`, `rfeuge`, `rrefuge`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/refuge