Escaper vs. Escapee — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 7, 2024
An escaper actively flees from a place, while an escapee has successfully escaped and is currently free.
Difference Between Escaper and Escapee
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Escaper refers to someone in the process of escaping, highlighting the action and urgency of the moment. Whereas, escapee denotes someone who has already escaped, emphasizing their current state of having successfully fled.
Escaper is used less frequently and often conveys a sense of immediacy or ongoing action in contexts such as escape attempts from prisons or dangerous situations. On the other hand, escapee is more commonly used to describe someone who has completed an escape, applicable in legal, military, or adventure narratives.
Escaper might still be under pursuit or in danger, indicating that the escape process is active and unresolved. While, escapee usually suggests that the individual has reached a temporary or permanent place of safety.
The term escaper can imply an incomplete action, where the outcome is uncertain. In contrast, escapee carries a connotation of success, as the individual has managed to evade confinement or captivity.
Escaper can be seen as transient, not defining the individual’s status permanently. Whereas, escapee may define a new, lasting status or identity for the person, often used in legal or formal contexts to describe someone’s past actions.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Someone actively escaping
Someone who has escaped
Temporal Context
During the escape
After the escape
Connotation
Uncertainty, ongoing action
Success, completion
Usage Context
Less common, dramatic scenes
Common, legal/military scenes
Outcome
Unknown, still in danger
Known, usually safe
Compare with Definitions
Escaper
Involved in a breakout.
The escaper used a makeshift rope to descend from the window.
Escapee
No longer confined or captive.
The escapee was on the run for days before being found.
Escaper
Actively trying to evade capture.
The escaper avoided the search lights by hiding under debris.
Escapee
One who has successfully escaped.
The escapee found refuge in a nearby town.
Escaper
Engaged in the act of fleeing.
Security cameras captured the escaper running down the alley.
Escapee
Having completed an escape.
Authorities are searching for the prison escapee.
Escaper
Someone attempting to escape.
The escaper was last seen climbing over the fence.
Escapee
Often used to refer to someone who escaped custody.
The escapee from the local jail was recaptured.
Escaper
Facing immediate danger or pursuit.
The escaper navigated through the woods to avoid the guards.
Escapee
Generally safe from immediate pursuit.
The escapee blended into the crowd to remain undetected.
Escaper
To break loose from confinement; get free
Escape from jail.
Escapee
One that has escaped, especially an escaped prisoner. See Usage Note at -ee1.
Escaper
To issue from confinement or enclosure; leak or seep out
Gas was escaping from the vent.
Escapee
Someone who has become free through escaping imprisonment.
Escaper
To avoid a serious or unwanted outcome
Escaped from the accident with their lives.
Escapee
Someone who has escaped.
Escaper
(Biology) To become established in the wild. Used of a plant or animal.
Escapee
(botany) A plant that has escaped from cultivation.
Escaper
(Computers) To interrupt a command, exit a program, or change levels within a program by using a key, combination of keys, or key sequence.
Escapee
Someone who escapes
Escaper
To succeed in avoiding
The thief escaped punishment.
Escaper
To break loose from; get free of
The spacecraft escaped Earth's gravitational field.
Escaper
To be outside the memory or understanding of; fail to be remembered or understood by
Her name escapes me. The book's significance escaped him.
Escaper
To issue involuntarily from
A sigh escaped my lips.
Escaper
The act or an instance of escaping.
Escaper
A means of escaping.
Escaper
A means of obtaining temporary freedom from worry, care, or unpleasantness
Television is my escape from worry.
Escaper
A gradual effusion from an enclosure; a leakage.
Escaper
(Biology) A cultivated plant or a domesticated or confined animal that has become established in the wild.
Escaper
(Computers) A key used especially to interrupt a command, exit a program, or change levels within a program.
Escaper
A person who escapes.
Escaper
(computing) A program or algorithm for escaping text.
An HTML escaper; a query escaper
Escaper
One who escapes.
Common Curiosities
What defines an escaper?
An escaper is defined as someone in the process of escaping.
Who is considered an escapee?
An escapee is someone who has successfully escaped from a place of confinement.
Is an escaper always an escapee?
Not necessarily; an escaper becomes an escapee if the escape is successful.
How are escapers and escapees viewed legally?
Escapers are seen as attempting to evade law or capture, while escapees might face specific charges related to their escape.
What risks does an escaper face?
Escapers face immediate dangers such as pursuit and capture.
Can animals be escapers or escapees?
Yes, animals can be described as escapers when attempting to flee and escapees once they have successfully fled.
How do authorities handle escapers versus escapees?
Authorities actively pursue escapers, while they may issue alerts or search warrants for escapees.
Can an escapee be recaptured?
Yes, an escapee can be recaptured, especially if they remain within reachable jurisdictions.
What might motivate someone to become an escaper?
Motivations can include seeking freedom from unjust imprisonment or dangerous situations.
Are there famous historical escapees?
Yes, numerous historical figures have been famous for their escapes, such as Houdini or prisoners from Alcatraz.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
