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maverick

American  
[mav-er-ik, mav-rik] / ˈmæv ər ɪk, ˈmæv rɪk /

noun

  1. Southwestern U.S. an unbranded calf, cow, or steer, especially an unbranded calf that is separated from its mother.

    1. a lone dissenter, such as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from their peers.

      His unusual techniques made him a maverick of modern dance.

    2. a person pursuing rebellious, even potentially disruptive, policies or ideas.

      You can't muzzle a maverick.

  2. Maverick, an electro-optically guided U.S. air-to-ground tactical missile for destroying tanks and other hardened targets at ranges up to 15 miles (24 km).


adjective

  1. unorthodox, unconventional, or nonconformist.

    She had a reputation as a maverick fiscal conservative willing to raise taxes.

maverick British  
/ ˈmævərɪk /

noun

  1. (in US and Canadian cattle-raising regions) an unbranded animal, esp a stray calf

    1. a person of independent or unorthodox views

    2. ( as modifier )

      a maverick politician

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of maverick

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; named after Samuel A. Maverick (1803–70), Texas pioneer who left his calves unbranded

Explanation

A maverick is a rebel, someone who shows a lot of independence. A maverick on a motorcycle might blaze her own trail, traveling around the country and earning money by performing in rodeos. Samuel A. Maverick owned a lot of cattle, and he let them roam around Texas without a brand, or identification mark, seared into their skins. Samuel was a maverick for going against the common practice of tracking his animals, and his last name became part of the English language as both an adjective and a noun in the 19th century. Someone who acts very independently is a maverick, and individual actions that stand out are maverick, as in "her maverick jumping style on the ice was both wild and delicate."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing maverick

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It began as a film about a maverick artist who'd established a winter arts festival on the tiny Scottish island of Papa Westray.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

His unfiltered comments are part of his self-styled image as a maverick, which found traction in a nation where corruption, red tape and institutional dysfunction impact people's lives at every level.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

In reality, Ms. Allen argues, Betjeman was a maverick.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

But it’s all about the “again” aspect these days for the 77-year-old British-born composer and showbiz maverick whose net worth reportedly tops $1 billion.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 10, 2025

And during that time, Gerry, always the maverick, had opted to remain in Paris to confer unofficially with French diplomats about averting the looming war.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis