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

French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska has been rewarded for her Roland Garros run with a wildcard for the women's singles.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

“The wealth effect has never been more important to the U.S. economy,” wrote Emily Roland and Matt Miskin, investment strategists at Manulife John Hancock Investments.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 13, 2026

In the build-up to Roland Garros, she was playing events on the second tier of the women's tour across Europe.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Qualifier Chwalinska's path to Saturday's showpiece at Roland Garros has been less predictable.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

A number of African American performers, among them Roland Hayes, Alberta Hunter, and Josephine Baker, escaping racism in the United States, had enjoyed successful careers in England and France.

From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman