Meanings
verbgo rogue (third-person singular simple present goes rogue, present participle going rogue, simple past went rogue, past participle gone rogue)
present singular third person goes rogue · participle present going rogue · past went rogue · participle past gone rogue
- intransitiveTo begin to behave in an erratic, uncontrolled, dangerous, destructive, or savage way.
- idiomaticintransitiveTo behave in a very unconventional, independent, uncontrolled, or unauthorized way that ignores rules, norms, or expectations.
As the Biden administration and its allies try to secure an elusive cease-fire in Gaza, Israel appears to have gone rogue.
2024 August 2, Steven Erlanger, “Netanyahu, Defiant, Appears to Have Gone Rogue, Risking a Regional War”, in The New York Times, →ISSN - idiomaticintransitiveTo defect, or to repudiate allegiance, fealty, affiliation, or membership. (For example, a spy or soldier in relation to a country; or a politician in relation to a political party; or an employee; or a club member.)
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Translations
French changer de camp, retourner sa veste
- changer de campswitch allegiance, affiliation, or membership
- retourner sa vesteswitch allegiance, affiliation, or membership
- trahirswitch allegiance, affiliation, or membership
German (ein wütender) Einzelgänger, ausflippen
- (ein wütender) Einzelgänger (werden)behave in an erratic or uncontrolled way
- ausflippenbehave in an erratic or uncontrolled way
- ausrastenbehave in an erratic or uncontrolled way
- auf eigene Faust (handeln, entscheiden etc.)behave in a very unconventional or independent way
- aus der Reihe tanzenbehave in a very unconventional or independent way
- eigenmächtig (handeln, entscheiden etc.)behave in a very unconventional or independent way
- abtrünnig (werden)behave in a very unconventional or independent way
- (ein rebellischer) Einzelgänger (werden)behave in a very unconventional or independent way
- abtrünnig (werden)switch allegiance, affiliation, or membership
Cite this entry
APA
go rogue. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20rogue
MLA
“go rogue.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20rogue. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “go rogue,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20rogue.
Source: go rogue on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.