ranger

noun

rang·​er ˈrān-jər How to pronounce ranger (audio)
Synonyms of rangernext
1
a
: the keeper of a British royal park or forest
2
: one that ranges
3
a
: a member of an armed group who ranges 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Four puppies born this year will go on to become canine rangers. Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 8 May 2026 Park rangers didn’t specify the extent of the hikers’ injuries. Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026 Retired State Parks ranger Jim Serpa showed up to the recent workshop to see the plans, recalling when the campgrounds flooded in 2004, the first time in 50 years. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 2 May 2026 Yeah, there was an early draft where she was eventually rescued by a ranger who was doing almost like a C-plot investigation. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ranger

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ranger was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Ranger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ranger. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

ranger

noun
rang·​er ˈrān-jər How to pronounce ranger (audio)
1
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

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