Renegat

Renegat is a noun used in several European languages to describe a person who abandons a group, cause, or faith and joins or aligns with an opposing side. The term is often pejorative, implying disloyalty or betrayal, and is commonly used in political, military, religious, or ideological contexts. In many languages, including German, Polish, Danish, Norwegian, and Dutch, renegat functions as a direct loanword or native term with a similar sense of treachery or desertion.

Etymology: The word derives from the Latin renegatus, the past participle of renegare meaning to deny or repudiate, via French renégat and Spanish renegado, among others. The spread of the term through European languages reflects historical patterns of defections and the stigma attached to treason or apostasy.

Usage and nuance: Renegat typically denotes a person who has defected from one side to another. It can describe soldiers who switch sides, adherents who renounce their religious faith, or political figures who change allegiance. The term often carries moral judgment, though its tone can vary by context and language.

See also: Renegade, apostasy, traitor, defection.