rogue

[rohg]

adjective

1. no longer obedient, belonging, or accepted and hence not controllable or answerable; renegade.

   They described him as a rogue cop who had abandoned his training.

2. dangerous and unpredictable.

   They were trapped in the house by a rogue snowstorm.

3. of or noting a nation or state that defies international treaties, laws, etc..

   The blame is placed on rogue states that threaten world peace.

4. (of an animal) having an abnormally violent or unpredictable disposition.

   She helped trap a rogue tiger terrorizing the village.

noun

1. a dishonest, untrustworthy person; scoundrel.

   We were traveling in secret to avoid running into rogues and thieves.

   Synonyms: quack, mountebank, cheat, swindler, trickster, villain

2. a playfully mischievous person; scamp.

   The youngest boys are little rogues.

3. Archaic.,  a tramp or vagabond.

4. an animal having an abnormally violent or unpredictable disposition.

5. Biology.,  a usually inferior organism, especially a plant, varying markedly from the normal.

verb (used with object)

rogued, roguing 

1. 1. to uproot or destroy (plants that do not conform to a desired standard).

      Usually, roguing the diseased plants is sufficient to minimize further spread.

   2. to perform this operation upon.

      to rogue a field.

2. to cheat.

verb (used without object)

rogued, roguing 

1. to live or act as a scoundrel, vagabond, or scamp.

rogue

/ rəʊɡ /

noun

1. a dishonest or unprincipled person, esp a man; rascal; scoundrel

2. humorous,  a mischievous or wayward person, often a child; scamp

3. a crop plant which is inferior, diseased, or of a different, unwanted variety

4. 1. any inferior or defective specimen

   2. ( as modifier )

      rogue heroin

5. archaic,  a vagrant

6. 1. an animal of vicious character that has separated from the main herd and leads a solitary life

   2. ( as modifier )

      a rogue elephant

verb

1. 1. (tr) to rid (a field or crop) of plants that are inferior, diseased, or of an unwanted variety

   2. to identify and remove such plants

Other Word Forms

• outrogue verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of rogue¹

First recorded in 1555–65; origin uncertain, apparently short for obsolete roger “begging vagabond,” originally thieves' jargon

Word History and Origins

Origin of rogue¹

C16: of unknown origin; perhaps related to Latin rogāre to beg

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go rogue, to stop being obedient or predictable; to behave in a way that is not allowed or expected.

   Giving people the tools they need to do their jobs greatly reduces the risk of employees going rogue and using unauthorized services.

   To make more money, the agent went rogue and sold his services to the highest bidder.

Synonym Study

See knave.

Example Sentences

An 11-year-old has been hailed a "superhero" by his mum after saving his two-year-old sister from a rogue firework.

Read more on BBC

Security analyst Mr Ani argues that "to say that they are jihadists - it's a far stretch. It has nothing to do with that. It has a lot more to do with rogue and criminal elements."

Read more on BBC

It would be no surprise if he went rogue and tried to handle the kidnapping himself.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The technology is also coveted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose rogue nation is building a nuclear-powered sub and may be getting technical help from Russia, Seoul officials say.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Former Biden administration officials said Bovino had gone “rogue” and that no agency leaders knew about the operation beforehand.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• con artist 
• crook 
• rascal 
• swindler 
• villain