a person who is fleeing, from prosecution, intolerable circumstances, etc.; a runaway

a fugitive from justice; a fugitive from a dictatorial regime.

having taken flight, or run away

a fugitive slave.

fleeting; transitory; elusive

fugitive thoughts that could not be formulated.

Fine Arts . changing color as a result of exposure to light and chemical substances present in the atmosphere, in other pigments, or in the medium.

dealing with subjects of passing interest, as writings; ephemeral

fugitive essays.

wandering, roving, or vagabond

a fugitive carnival.

adjective

confronting , facing , permanent

adjective

avoiding , brief , criminal , elusive , ephemeral , errant , erratic , escaping , evading , evanescent , fleeting , flitting , flying * , fugacious , hot * , impermanent , lamster , momentary , moving , on the lam , passing , planetary , running away , short * , short-lived , temporary , transitory , unstable , volatile , wandering , wanted , escaped , runaway , fleet , temporal , transient

noun

bolter , derelict , deserter , displaced person , dodger , migr , escapee , escaper , evacuee , exile , fly-by-night * , hermit , hunted person , outcast , outlaw , recluse , refugee , runagate , runaway , stray , transient , truant , vagabond , waif , walkout , awol , brief , criminal , elusive , ephemeral , evanescent , fleeing , fleeting , fugacious , renegade , roaming , transitory , wanted