1
: resembling or suggesting a rogue elephant especially in being isolated, aberrant, dangerous, or uncontrollable
capsized by a rogue wave
3
: of or being a nation whose leaders defy international law or norms of international behavior
rogue states
rogued; roguing or rogueing
: to weed out inferior, diseased, or nontypical individuals from a crop plant or a field
Phrases
go rogue
: to begin to behave in an independent or uncontrolled way that is not authorized, normal, or expected
Before the Clemson Tigers played Notre Dame in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, Clark [a bald eagle] was supposed to fly around the stadium, high above people's heads. But instead, he went rogue and decided to perch on two unsuspecting fans.—
Nicole Gallucci
Nicole GallucciAnders had been sent to the Amazon to monitor the program's progress under the formidable Dr. Annick Swensen (who may have gone rogue and is no longer returning the company's calls).—Yvonne Zipp
Yvonne ZippWhenever a member of a group goes rogue, you can be absolutely certain that other members of that group will pop up with the "bad apple" defense, as in, "Well, sure, there's a few bad apples in every bunch, but that's the exception."—Christine Flowers
Christine FlowersExamples of rogue in a Sentence
Adjective
Americans assume that our country was built by rogue males but there's more to the breed than wanderlust and rugged individualism.
—Florence King, National Review, 27 Aug. 2007
Perhaps more important, defense planners worried for the past year about the instability of the Soviet Union and the nightmare that a rogue Soviet submarine skipper might decide on his own to launch close to 200 warheads at U.S. targets.
—John Barry, Newsweek, 3 June 1991
In "The In-Laws," Alan Arkin is a dentist led astray by a rogue C.I.A. operative …, whose son his daughter is marrying, and he winds up dodging bullets on a Caribbean island.
—Terrence Rafferty, New Yorker, 30 July 1990
a rogue administrator who took bribes to falsify paperwork
Noun
Many of the vagabonds were rogues and cheaters of various kinds, and formed a subcommunity on the fringes of official society.
—Charles Barber, Early Modern English, 1976
Cartier decided that the two boys were a choice pair of rogues who would probably try to run him aground if taken as pilots, and that he would dispense with their services.
—Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1971
His account of their discoveries in the low life of a seaport town would have made a charming book, and in the various characters that came their way the student might easily have found matter for a very complete dictionary of rogues.
—W. Somerset Maugham, Moon and Sixpence, 1919
He's a lovable old rogue.
a rogue who had nothing but contempt for people who made their living honestly
Florence King, National Review, 27 Aug. 2007
Perhaps more important, defense planners worried for the past year about the instability of the Soviet Union and the nightmare that a rogue Soviet submarine skipper might decide on his own to launch close to 200 warheads at U.S. targets.
—John Barry, Newsweek, 3 June 1991
In "The In-Laws," Alan Arkin is a dentist led astray by a rogue C.I.A. operative …, whose son his daughter is marrying, and he winds up dodging bullets on a Caribbean island.
—Terrence Rafferty, New Yorker, 30 July 1990
a rogue administrator who took bribes to falsify paperwork
Noun
Many of the vagabonds were rogues and cheaters of various kinds, and formed a subcommunity on the fringes of official society.
—Charles Barber, Early Modern English, 1976
Cartier decided that the two boys were a choice pair of rogues who would probably try to run him aground if taken as pilots, and that he would dispense with their services.
—Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1971
His account of their discoveries in the low life of a seaport town would have made a charming book, and in the various characters that came their way the student might easily have found matter for a very complete dictionary of rogues.
—W. Somerset Maugham, Moon and Sixpence, 1919
He's a lovable old rogue.
a rogue who had nothing but contempt for people who made their living honestly
Recent Examples on the Web
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
For leaders, now is the time to develop safeguards that can protect both their businesses and their clients from rogue actions.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 12 July 2025
While Superman clearly has a wide rogues gallery filled with powerful villains, many consider Lex Luthor to be his ultimate arch-nemesis.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 11 July 2025
Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023
The world faces myriad existential threats of varying likelihoods, from pandemics and nuclear war to rogue artificial intelligence and asteroid collisions.
—Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for rogue
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Adjective
Black netting bordered the makeshift field, just as a precaution for any rogue lacrosse balls.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
For leaders, now is the time to develop safeguards that can protect both their businesses and their clients from rogue actions.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
What is interesting about the rogue visit is that the team is owned by fiercely anti-Trump John Henry, who also owns the fiercely anti-Trump Boston Globe, which is run by his fiercely anti-Trump wife, Linda Pizzuti.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 12 July 2025
While Superman clearly has a wide rogues gallery filled with powerful villains, many consider Lex Luthor to be his ultimate arch-nemesis.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
Written for the home gardener and the more seasoned horticulturist alike, this book covers crop selection, pollination, roguing, and the processes of harvesting and storing seeds, honoring traditions, and encouraging a joy for understanding of the art and science of seed saving.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023
The world faces myriad existential threats of varying likelihoods, from pandemics and nuclear war to rogue artificial intelligence and asteroid collisions.
—Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for rogue
Cite this Entry
“Rogue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rogue. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationGeographical Definition
Rogue
geographical name
river about 200 miles (320 kilometers) long in southwestern Oregon rising in Crater Lake National Park and flowing west and southwest into the Pacific Ocean
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