Rangers

Rangers is a term with multiple uses in military, law enforcement, conservation, and sport. A ranger is typically someone assigned to guard, patrol, or protect people, property, or land, and the word has given its name to various organizations and teams.

In military and paramilitary contexts, the United States Army Rangers are an elite light infantry force that conducts rapid-deployment operations and direct-action missions. The 75th Ranger Regiment is a prominent component. Ranger School trains soldiers to high standards. Similar units in other countries carry the same or a related designation, reflecting a tradition of flexible, light infantry. In civilian settings, park rangers, forest rangers, and game rangers perform law enforcement, resource management, search and rescue, wildlife protection, and public safety in protected areas.

In sports, Rangers is the name of several professional clubs. Glasgow Rangers Football Club, based in Glasgow, Scotland, is one of the world’s most successful football clubs. The New York Rangers are a National Hockey League team based in New York City. The Texas Rangers are a Major League Baseball team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area; the team’s name derives from the historical Texas Ranger law-enforcement tradition.

The term also appears in other contexts, including folklore, media, and place names, reflecting its broad association with guardianship, exploration, and competition.