maverick

[ mav-er-ik, mav-rik ]

noun

1. Southwestern U.S. an unbranded calf, cow, or steer, especially an unbranded calf that is separated from its mother.
2. 1. a lone dissenter, such as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from their peers:

      His unusual techniques made him a maverick of modern dance.

   2. a person pursuing rebellious, even potentially disruptive, policies or ideas:

      You can't muzzle a maverick.

3. Maverick, an electro-optically guided U.S. air-to-ground tactical missile for destroying tanks and other hardened targets at ranges up to 15 miles (24 km).

adjective

1. unorthodox, unconventional, or nonconformist:

   She had a reputation as a maverick fiscal conservative willing to raise taxes.

maverick

/ ˈmævərɪk /

noun

1. (in US and Canadian cattle-raising regions) an unbranded animal, esp a stray calf
2. 1. a person of independent or unorthodox views
   2. ( as modifier )

      a maverick politician

Word History and Origins

Origin of maverick¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; named after Samuel A. Maverick (1803–70), Texas pioneer who left his calves unbranded

Word History and Origins

Origin of maverick¹

C19: after Samuel A. Maverick (1803–70), Texas rancher, who did not brand his cattle

Example Sentences

There’s also something comforting for audiences in seeing familiar faces on the screen, like Tom Cruise in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” which returned to the flyboy’s story after a 36-year hiatus, or Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life,” which came 17 years after the franchise’s last installment.

From Los Angeles Times

Founded in 2020 by the Lakers superstar and his longtime business partner Maverick Carter, the Los Angeles-based SpringHill Co. has three arms of its business.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Elliott started recreating a scene from Top Gun: Maverick, one of his favourite films, about 18 months ago.

From BBC

For an alternative, Amorim could go maverick, or delve into United's highly-rated youth set-up.

From BBC

Host Felix Salmon chats with Lionel Barber, whose new book Gambling Man: The Secret Story of the World’s Greatest Disruptor, Masayoshi Son reveals how the man who backed Alibaba became the world’s biggest maverick investor, throwing fortunes at enterprises that could either succeed spectacularly or go down in flames.

From Slate