Standard Lemma guide

renegade

adj · noun · verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈɹɛ.nəˌɡeɪd/
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˈɹɛ.nɪˌɡeɪd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R EH1 N AH0 G EY2 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Deserting, treacherous, disloyal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: faithless, perfidious, ratlike, booky, dastardly, disleal, disloyal, double-crossing, double-dealing, double-faced, double-hearted, doublehearted, false, falseheart, false-hearted, guiled, guileful, hollow-hearted, illoyal, infidelitous, insidious, Judaslike, Judasly, nonfaithful, proditorious, proditory, Punic, recreant, renegade, reptilian, reptitious, swike, traitorish, traitorlike, traitorly, traitorous, traitorsome, treacherous, treachersome, trothless, unfaithful, unleal, unloyal, unsteadfast, untrue, viperish, viperous

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Unconventional, unorthodox.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: atypical, heterodox, inorthodox, nonorthodox

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An outlaw or rebel.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A disloyal person who betrays or deserts a cause, religion, political party, friend, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: apostate, defector, heretic, turncoat, backstabber, betrayer, cockatrice, double-crosser, quisling, rat, ratter, recreant, renegade, serpent, snake, snake in the grass, swike, traitor, treacher, treacherer, treasonist, turntippet, withersake, wolf in sheep's clothing

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To desert one's cause, or change one's loyalties; to commit betrayal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: apostatize, defect, quisle, traitorize, assfuck, betray, burn, cop out, cross out, cross up, double-cross, do someone dirty, do the dirty on, false, go back on, knife, let down, play someone false, renegade, sell, sell the pass, sell down the river, sell down, sell out, stab in the back, swike, turncoat

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

having deserted a cause or principle

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • some provinces had proved recreant
  • renegade supporters of the usurper

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recreant

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: deserter, apostate, turncoat, recreant, ratter

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: quitter

8

noun

Meaning 8

someone who rebels and becomes an outlaw

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deserter, defector

9

verb

Meaning 9

break with established customs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rebel

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: protest, resist, dissent

History

Etymology

From Spanish renegado, from Medieval Latin renegātus, perfect participle of renegō (“to deny”). See also renege.

Across languages

Translations

98 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: lovløs — outlaw or rebel
  • Danish: rebel — outlaw or rebel
  • Dutch: rebel — outlaw or rebel
  • Dutch: outlaw — outlaw or rebel
  • Dutch: vogelvrije — outlaw or rebel
  • Finnish: kapinallinen — outlaw or rebel
  • French: renégat — outlaw or rebel
  • French: renégate — outlaw or rebel
  • French: rebelle — outlaw or rebel
  • German: Rebell — outlaw or rebel
  • German: Rebellin — outlaw or rebel
  • Greek: αντάρτης (antártis) — outlaw or rebel
  • Greek: αντάρτισσα (antártissa) — outlaw or rebel
  • Greek: εκτός νόμου (ektós nómou) — outlaw or rebel
  • Italian: rinnegato — outlaw or rebel
  • Italian: rinnegata — outlaw or rebel
  • Japanese: 変節者 (hensetsusha) — outlaw or rebel
  • Latin: renegātus — outlaw or rebel
  • Latin: renegāta — outlaw or rebel
  • Macedonian: о́дметник (ódmetnik) — outlaw or rebel
  • Norwegian Bokmål: rebell — outlaw or rebel
  • Norwegian Bokmål: opprører — outlaw or rebel
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: rebell — outlaw or rebel
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: opprørar — outlaw or rebel
  • Portuguese: renegado — outlaw or rebel
  • Portuguese: renegada — outlaw or rebel
  • Portuguese: rebelde — outlaw or rebel
  • Russian: мяте́жник (mjatéžnik) — outlaw or rebel
  • Russian: изго́й (izgój) — outlaw or rebel
  • Russian: изгна́нник (izgnánnik) — outlaw or rebel
  • Serbo-Croatian: odmetnik — outlaw or rebel
  • Spanish: renegado — outlaw or rebel
  • Spanish: renegada — outlaw or rebel
  • Spanish: rebelde — outlaw or rebel
  • Swedish: avfälling — outlaw or rebel
  • Swedish: renegat — outlaw or rebel
  • Bulgarian: отстъпник (otstǎpnik) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Bulgarian: ренегат (renegat) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Catalan: renegat — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Catalan: renegada — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Czech: renegát — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Dutch: renegaat — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Dutch: afvallige — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Dutch: overloper — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Finnish: luopio — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Finnish: uskonluopio — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • French: renégat — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • French: renégate — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Abtrünniger — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Abtrünnige — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Apostat — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Apostatin — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Abgefallener — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Abgefallene — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Glaubensabtrünniger — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Glaubensabtrünnige — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Überläufer — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Überläuferin — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Renegat — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Renegatin — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Deserteur — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • German: Deserteurin — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Greek: εξωμότης (exomótis) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Greek: αποστάτης (apostátis) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Greek: αποστάτισσα (apostátissa) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Greek: αποστάτρια (apostátria) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Greek: αρνησίθρησκος (arnisíthriskos) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Hungarian: renegát — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Hungarian: hűtlen — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Hungarian: áruló — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Italian: reietto — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Italian: reietta — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Latin: renegātus — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Latin: renegāta — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Macedonian: о́тстапник (ótstapnik) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Macedonian: о́тпадник (ótpadnik) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Norwegian Bokmål: overløper — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Norwegian Bokmål: renegat — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: overlaupar — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: renegat — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Polish: renegat — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Polish: zaprzaniec — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Polish: zdrajca — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Polish: zdrajczyni — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Portuguese: renegado — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Portuguese: renegada — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Portuguese: apóstata — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Russian: ренега́т (renegát) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Russian: ренега́тка (renegátka) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Russian: преда́тель (predátelʹ) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Russian: преда́тельница (predátelʹnica) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Russian: изме́нник (izménnik) — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Spanish: renegado — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Spanish: renegada — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Swedish: överlöpare — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Swedish: renegat — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Turkish: dönek — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
  • Turkish: mürtet — disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion etc.
Real reading context

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