renegade

1 of 3

noun

ren·​e·​gade ˈre-ni-ˌgād 

1

: a deserter from one faith, cause, or allegiance to another

2

: an individual who rejects lawful or conventional behavior

renegade

2 of 3

verb

renegaded; renegading

intransitive verb

: to become a renegade

renegade

3 of 3

adjective

1

: having deserted a faith, cause, or religion for a hostile one

2

: having rejected tradition : unconventional

Synonyms of renegade

Noun

• deserter
• traitor
• rebel
• insurgent
• defector

Examples of renegade in a Sentence

Noun

The group was full of free spirits and renegades who challenged every assumption of what art should be.

She regaled him with stories about pirates and renegades on the high seas.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

However, in the French Riviera city of Nice, an ally of Marine Le Pen's party, renegade conservative Eric Ciotti, looks set to win against a candidate backed by the center. —Reuters, NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026

Wandering around the park, dry leaves crunching underfoot, feels like crashing a dress rehearsal, or an extremely chill treeworker renegade. —Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026

Verb

Do Not Disturb follows Karegeya’s life from African herd boy to BMW-driving government spy to renegade refugee who fell prey to the boredom, loneliness, and conspiracies of exile. —Claude Gatebuke, The New York Review of Books, 10 June 2021

Adjective

Set 500 years in the future, Whedon's original series followed a renegade crew aboard the transport ship Serenity. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026

Harboring not one but two renegade talents, Tiny Cinema also serves a punk-rock purpose for Weaver, allowing the indie director to present his work in the most enchanting conditions possible. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Spanish renegado, from Medieval Latin renegatus, from past participle of renegare to deny, from Latin re- + negare to deny — more at negate

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for renegade

• accolade
• ambuscade
• antegrade
• balustrade
• barricade
• cannonade
• cavalcade
• centigrade
• chambermaid
• colonnade
• countertrade
• disobeyed

Kids Definition

renegade

1 of 2 noun

ren·​e·​gade ˈren-i-ˌgād 

1

: a person who deserts a faith, cause, or party

2

: a person who rejects lawful or acceptable behavior

renegade

2 of 2 adjective

1

: having deserted a faith, cause, or party

2

: having rejected tradition : unconventional