noun
ronin
Ronin (noun) means a samurai in feudal Japan who had no lord or master, often forced to survive independently. Example: “The film follows a band of ronin hired to protect a village.”
noun
1
A samurai in feudal Japan who had no lord or master, often forced to survive independently.
"The film follows a band of ronin hired to protect a village."
2
In Japan, a student who has failed a university entrance exam and is studying independently to retake it.
"He spent a year as a ronin studying for his second attempt at the exam."
How to use ronin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA masterless samurai, or by extension, a student retaking exams outside a formal school year.
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Word forms
- Plural
- ronins
Fill the gap
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The film follows a band of _____ hired to protect a village.
Etymology
From Japanese rōnin, meaning roughly "wave person" — someone adrift without a master, like a wave with no fixed shore.
Rhymes for ronin
See all rhymes for ronin →Frequently asked questions
What does “ronin” mean?
The word “ronin” means a samurai in feudal Japan who had no lord or master, often forced to survive independently. In plain terms, a masterless samurai, or by extension, a student retaking exams outside a formal school year.
How do you use “ronin” in a sentence?
Here is “ronin” used in a sentence: “The film follows a band of ronin hired to protect a village.”
What part of speech is “ronin”?
“Ronin” is a noun.
Where does the word “ronin” come from?
The word “ronin” comes from Japanese. From Japanese rōnin, meaning roughly "wave person" — someone adrift without a master, like a wave with no fixed shore.
How many meanings does “ronin” have?
“Ronin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a samurai in feudal Japan who had no lord or master, often forced to survive independently.
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