Meaning & use

rogue

noun·Advanced

A dishonest or unprincipled person who behaves in an unpredictable or mischievous way.

See it in a sentence

The old sailor described himself as a lovable rogue who had broken more rules than he could count.

Investigators discovered that a single rogue had been leaking documents to the press for years.

A note on using this word

Rogue can be mildly affectionate, describing a charming troublemaker, or more serious, as in 'rogue trader' or 'rogue state.'

Words with a similar meaning

scoundrelrascal

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Operating outside normal or legal controls, often in a dangerous or unpredictable way.

The satellite went into a rogue orbit after ground control lost contact with it.

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