ranger

[ reyn-jer ]

noun

1. forest ranger.
2. one of a body of armed guards who patrol a region.
3. (initial capital letter) a U.S. soldier in World War II specially trained for making surprise raids and attacks in small groups. Compare commando ( def 1 ).
4. a soldier specially trained in the techniques of guerrilla warfare, especially in jungle terrain.
5. a person who ranges or roves.
6. (especially in Texas) a member of the state police.
7. British. a keeper of a royal forest or park.
8. Building Trades. wale ¹( def 5 ).
9. (initial capital letter) one of a series of instrumented U.S. space probes launched in the 1960s that transmitted closeup pictures of the moon before impacting the lunar surface.

Ranger

¹

/ ˈreɪndʒə /

noun

1. any of a series of nine American lunar probes launched between 1961 and 1965, three of which transmitted to earth photographs of the moon

Ranger

²

/ ˈreɪndʒə /

noun

1. a member of the senior branch of the Guides

ranger

³

/ ˈreɪndʒə /

noun

1. sometimes capital an official in charge of a forest, park, estate, nature reserve, etc
2. a person employed to patrol a State or national park or forest Brit equivalentwarden
3. one of a body of armed troops employed to police a State or district

   a Texas Ranger

4. (in the US and certain other armies) a commando specially trained in making raids
5. a person who wanders about large areas of country; a rover

Other Words From

• under·ranger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ranger¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; range, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Word gets around when rangers have this technology, and Loucks and Barlow believe that when poachers know that the rhinos in an area are heavily protected, they stay away.

From Popular-Science

When I was a park ranger in Alaska, I spent many hours working inside a yurt.

From Washington Post

In August, The Seattle Times reported that rangers had to bury 200 turds and TP piles in one week in the Enchantments wilderness.

From Popular-Science

The park enlisted TJ Atsye, a ranger and member of the Laguna Pueblo Tribe, to narrate the self-guided driving and walking tour of the Mesa Top Loop Road.

From Outside Online

Though the pandemic and canceled ranger tours initially botched my plans, I took refuge in a quieter, more self-guided experience at Mesa Verde, one that allowed my history-loving imagination to roam freely.

From Outside Online

I suspect that the new Tarzan will run into the same problems that beset the recent Lone Ranger remake.

From The Daily Beast

But Virunga is not Yellowstone, and Ranger Rick would be no match for the threats facing national parks here.

From The Daily Beast

Consider the controversy over Daybreak Ranger, a seemingly androgynous character.

From The Daily Beast

“We are competing with a Park Ranger AMA,” reassured one aide.

From The Daily Beast

“Diversification” is a hedge fund wife eschewing a Lily Pulitzer tote bag in favor of one made by Sloane Ranger or Jonathan Adler.

From The Daily Beast

L le pere Birat dit la Messe, & fit ce qu'il peut pour ranger vn chacun ce qui estoit du devoir.

From Project Gutenberg

At a later date it was used by the Texans in their war against Mexico, and from that time on every Texas ranger wanted a revolver.

From Project Gutenberg

She was Addy Ranger, the type-writer on the ground-floor, who had come up from her typewriting to see what she could do.

From Project Gutenberg

Farnham soon came up to the mound; but they did not begin to move till Ranger shouted out that all were safely over.

From Project Gutenberg

Addy Ranger took Mr. Gunning very tenderly by the arm and led him to the stairs to see her go.

From Project Gutenberg