renegade

Definitions

From Spanish renegado: re- (back, again) + negāre (deny) = 'one who has denied (his faith).' Originally a Christian who renounced the religion and went over to the enemy — the ultimate betrayal of one's own side. The religious meaning faded, but the act of turning against your own group stuck: a renegade is a traitor, defector, or rebel.

Why It Means This

The word still carries its dramatic origin: not just someone who disagrees, but someone who switches sides. A renegade has belonged to a group and then turned against it — a renegade soldier, a renegade faction. As an adjective it has also softened into 'rogue, unauthorized' (a renegade cop who breaks the rules), but the core image is always the defector who said 'no' to his own people.

Common Collocations

• 1.renegade faction叛离派系
• 2.renegade soldier叛变士兵
• 3.renegade group反叛团体
• 4.branded a renegade被斥为叛徒
• 5.renegade state无赖国家

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The renegade general led his troops against the government.

• 2.

  He was branded a renegade for siding with the rivals.

• 3.

  A renegade faction broke away to form its own party.

Easily Confused

renegade vs renege — Same root, easy to mix up. A renegade (noun) is a person who betrays their side. To renege (verb) is to go back on a promise. Spot the difference: renegADE = a turncoat; renEGE = breaking your word.

Synonym Comparison