Ren"e*gade (r?n"?-g?d), n. [Sp. renegado, LL. renegatus, fr. renegare to deny; L. pref. re- re- + negare to deny. See Negation, and cf. Runagate.]
One faithless to principle or party.
Specifically:
(a) An apostate from Christianity or from any form of religious faith.
James justly regarded these renegades as the most serviceable tools that he could employ.
Macaulay.
(b) One who deserts from a military or naval post; a deserter.
Arbuthnot.
(c) A common vagabond; a worthless or wicked fellow.
© Webster 1913.