asylum seeker

[ uh-sahy-luhm see-ker ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person, especially a political fugitive, who applies for refuge or asylum in a foreign country or its embassy.

asylum seeker

a person who, from fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, social group, or political opinion, has crossed an international frontier into a country in which he or she hopes to be granted refugee status

First recorded in 1955–60

Yousef, a gay Iranian who asked to be identified only by his first name out of fear of repercussions, is one such asylum seeker.

But this is far from the first time an asylum-seeker has made false claims.

She was an immigrant asylum seeker, and embellishment of asylum applications is extremely common.

A smuggler's boat loaded with asylum seeker was intercepted by the Australian Navy as it headed to Christmas Island.

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