rover

1 of 2

noun (1)

ro·​ver ˈrō-vər 

: pirate

rover

2 of 2

noun (2)

rov·​er ˈrō-vər 

1

: a random or long-distance mark in archery

—usually used in plural

2

: wanderer, roamer

3

: a player who is not assigned to a specific position on a team and who plays wherever needed

4

: a vehicle for exploring the surface of an extraterrestrial body (such as the moon or Mars)

Synonyms of rover

Noun (2)

• nomad
• traveler
• wanderer
• drifter
• roamer
• wayfarer

Examples of rover in a Sentence

Noun (2)

ever since he developed a strong case of wanderlust in college, he's been a rover

a story of the days when sea rovers plied the Caribbean

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Last September, a paper in the journal Nature reported that the Perseverance Mars rover had discovered a curious rock in a dry delta that was once part of a river. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 June 2026

The New Glenn Rocket plays a major role in NASA's Artemis moon program, and Blue Origin is developing a lunar lander that will deliver each rover to the lunar surface. —Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 31 May 2026

For details on the DLR's work on rovers, crawlers & drones on Mars — the Valles Marineris Explorer project, visit the project's website. —Leonard David, Space.com, 31 May 2026

The space agency outlined an ambitious three-phase launch program of landers, drones, rovers and infrastructure to construct a $20 billion lunar base by 2032 where astronauts can live and work. —Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle Dutch, from roven to rob; akin to Old English rēafian to reave — more at reave

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rover

• sea rover

Rhymes for rover

• clover
• drover
• over
• prover
• stover
• trover
• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover

Kids Definition

rover

1 of 2 noun

ro·​ver ˈrō-vər 

: pirate entry 1

rover

2 of 2 noun

rov·​er ˈrō-vər 

: a person who roves around : roamer