Roland

American  

[roh-luhnd] / ˈroʊ lənd /

noun

1. Italian Orlando.  the greatest of the paladins in the Charlemagne cycle of the chansons de geste, renowned for his prowess and the manner of his death in the battle of Roncesvalles (a.d. 778), also for his five days' combat with Oliver in which neither was the victor.

2. a male given name: from Germanic words meaning “glory” and “land.”

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idioms

1. a Roland for an Oliver, retaliation or a retort equal to its provocation; a blow for a blow.

Roland British  

/ ˈrəʊlənd /

noun

1. the greatest of the legendary 12 peers (paladins, of whom Oliver was another) in attendance on Charlemagne; he died in battle at Roncesvalles (778 _ad )

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Example Sentences

The French finance minister Roland Lescure had just had a private meeting with Bessent when I met him.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

“We’re kind of living one month to the next,” Roland Lescure, France’s minister of economy and finance, said in an interview on Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Roland found Eastman culpable of 10 of 11 counts of misconduct.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the G7 meeting, to be held via videoconference, would include energy and finance ministers as well as central bank chiefs and the heads of other international agencies.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

I was only planning on spending a few days with Henry—I was back at work for Dr. Roland the following Monday—but I ended up staying until school started again.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt