rogue

[ˈɹəʊ̯ɡ]
[ˈɹoʊ̯ɡ]
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A rogue is someone who acts in a way that's against the rules or norms. This person might do something sneaky or dishonest.

The word "rogue" has a rich history and can be used in different contexts. When it comes to people, a rogue is often seen as a troublemaker or a scoundrel, someone who doesn't play by the rules. You might hear about a rogue employee who steals company funds or a rogue politician who breaks promises. In this sense, being called a "rogue" is usually not something you want to be! On the other hand, if you're talking about an object, like a knife or a sword, it's called a "rogue" if it's unstable or hard to control. For example, a rogue wave in the ocean might crash unexpectedly on the shore. In this case, the word "rogue" means unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

How common is "rogue"?

Word rogue is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions

noun

  • A scoundrel, rascal or unprincipled, deceitful, and unreliable person.

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verb

  • To cull; to destroy plants not meeting a required standard, especially when saving seed, rogue or unwanted plants are removed before pollination.

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adjective

  • (of an animal, especially an elephant) Vicious and solitary.

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