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

Noun

• apostate
• defector
• deserter
• recreant

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, over the decades, there have been a host of changes and challenges to the renegade radio station. —Tom Rivers, ABC News, 18 May 2024

Their group of Christmas Eve renegades expands with a stop at a bagel shop that’s a teen hangout — linking Miller’s Point to the sandwich-joint setting of Ham on Rye. —Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2024

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

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