renegade Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun someone who rebels and becomes an outlaw
noun a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
ratter; deserter; turncoat; recreant; apostate.
verb break with established customs
rebel.
adjective satellite having deserted a cause or principle
recreant.
- some provinces had proved recreant
- renegade supporters of the usurper

Sp. renegado, LL. renegatus, fr. renegare to deny; L. pref. re- re- + negare to deny. See Negation, and cf. Runagate.

One faithless to principle or party. Specifically: (a) An apostate from Christianity or from any form of religious faith.
James justly regarded these renegades as the most serviceable tools that he could employ. Macaulay.
(b) One who deserts from a military or naval post; a deserter. Arbuthnot. (c) A common vagabond; a worthless or wicked fellow.