What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fugitive
Example
The police are searching for the fugitive who escaped from prison. [fugitive: noun]
Example
The butterfly was a fugitive beauty, flitting from flower to flower. [fugitive: adjective]
runaway
Example
The parents were worried sick when their teenage daughter became a runaway. [runaway: noun]
Example
The runaway train was headed towards disaster. [runaway: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Runaway is more commonly used than fugitive in everyday language. Runaway is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while fugitive is less common and refers to a specific type of person or situation.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between fugitive and runaway?
Both fugitive and runaway can be used in formal or informal contexts, but fugitive may be more associated with legal or official language, while runaway is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
