Other forms: renegades
A renegade is somebody who deserts their side for another. A renegade priest, renegade soldiers, brand him a renegade.
It is stronger than defector because it carries betrayal, and it is nearly always said by the side that was left. The Spanish original meant somebody who had renounced the Christian faith, which is where the sting comes from.
1nounrenegadeSomebody who deserts their side for another.
“The renegade general switched sides and led the rebels against his former army.”
renegade is a deserter.
Spanish renegado, one who has renounced the faith, from Latin renegare, to deny. Renege is the same root.
Proto-Indo-European
*h₁eǵ-
Medieval Latin
renegātus
Spanish
renegado
English, today
renegade
Built from
From Spanish renegado, from Medieval Latin renegātus, perfect participle of renegō (“to deny”). See also renege.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA