ranger

noun

rang·​er ˈrān-jər 

1

a

: the keeper of a British royal park or forest

b

: forest ranger

2

: one that ranges

3

a

: one of a body of organized armed men who range over a region especially to enforce the law

b

: a soldier specially trained in close-range fighting and in raiding tactics

Examples of ranger in a Sentence

She's now a ranger at a national forest in Montana.

We were fortunate enough to get a tour from a ranger when we visited Yellowstone National Park.

Recent Examples on the Web

Oklahoma With the federal government shut down, National Park rangers are not present at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. —The Npr Network, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025

Anglers taking a grass carp should register their catch with the lakes ranger at [phone] or the fisheries staff, [phone]. —Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025

While the visitor centers inside the park are closed, the Fall River Visitor Center, which is right outside, is open without rangers. —Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

At the trailhead, a ranger clocked us with an expression that sat somewhere between curiosity and concern. —Junnelle Hogen, Outside, 19 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ranger

• forest ranger
• lone ranger
• park ranger

Rhymes for ranger

• changer
• danger
• manger
• stranger
• arranger
• endanger
• exchanger

Kids Definition

ranger

noun

rang·​er ˈrān-jər 

1

: forest ranger

2

a

: a member of a body of troops who range over a region

b

: a soldier in an army unit with special training (as parachute jumping and scuba diving) for making surprise attacks and raids