Renegade

Renegade is a term used to describe a person who abandons a formerly held allegiance, belief, or group and aligns with an opposing one. In common usage it can refer to someone who deserts a political movement, a religious faith, or a military organization, often implying a rejection of previous loyalties or norms. The label carries a pejorative connotation, but it may also be used descriptively for someone who switches sides in a conflict or reformist context.

Etymology: The word derives from Spanish renegado, from Latin renegatus, ultimately from renegare “to deny” or “to reject.” In English it has been used since the early modern period to describe deserters, apostates, or defectors, and later broadened to refer to anyone who repudiates an established loyalty.

Usage: In politics and military history, renegades may defect to an opposing faction or break with their former leadership. In religion, apostasy is a related concept. The term is often rhetorical, reflecting hostility from those who remain loyal to the original group. In popular culture, renegades appear as archetypal anti-heroes or rebels who operate outside conventional authority.

Related terms include apostate, defector, deserter, traitor, and mutineer; contexts and connotations vary across political, religious, and cultural landscapes.