renegade

[ren-i-geyd]

noun

1. a person who deserts a party or cause for another.

   Synonyms: dissenter, betrayer, deserter, traitor

2. an apostate from a religious faith.

adjective

1. of or like a renegade; traitorous.

renegade

/ ˈrɛnɪˌɡeɪd /

noun

1. 1. a person who deserts his or her cause or faith for another; apostate; traitor

   2. ( as modifier )

      a renegade priest

2. any outlaw or rebel

Word History and Origins

Origin of renegade¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Spanish renegado, from Medieval Latin renegātus, noun use of past participle of renegāre “to desert”; renege

Word History and Origins

Origin of renegade¹

C16: from Spanish renegado , from Medieval Latin renegāre to renounce, from Latin _re- + negāre to deny

Example Sentences

The rivalry with Gates and Microsoft has been more than just about stock prices and publicity, though, or even beyond personal—Gates the nerd, Ellison the renegade.

Read more on Barron's

Its protagonist, a wandering mercenary, seeks revenge on a group of renegades who murdered her family.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As the show points out, these designers were regularly dismissed as “outlaws,” “iconoclasts” and “renegades,” all terms they would come to embrace.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This particular stretch of track, which wends north from the town of Dunsmuir, is a renegade route for hikers to one of northern California’s most enchanting natural sights, Mossbrae Falls.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, India is deepening ties with Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• defector 
• deserter 
• dissident 
• heretic 
• insurgent 
• mutineer 
• traitor