maverick
maverick — noun
1. a person who chooses their own way of thinking and behaving, without following t
a person who chooses their own way of thinking and behaving, without following the usual patterns expected by their group or society
At a firm full of rule-followers, Hari was a maverick who questioned every policy.
countable noun + relative clause describing independent behaviour
The director was a maverick whose bold style made her famous but worried investors.
In the art world, Wei is a maverick who refuses to follow any established movement.
Some voters admired the candidate because she was a maverick who spoke honest opinions.
- rebel
more confrontational; a rebel actively fights against authority rather than simply going their own way
- nonconformist
focuses on social convention and lifestyle rather than on independent thinking
- individualist
emphasises self-reliance and personal freedom, often in philosophical or economic contexts
- dissenter
specifically disagrees with an official opinion or policy, especially in politics or religion
- conformist
someone who follows accepted customs and rules without questioning them
- follower
someone who accepts the leadership or opinions of others without independent thought
用法筆記
Often carries a positive or admiring tone, suggesting courage to stand apart. In political contexts, it can also imply unpredictability or unwillingness to cooperate with party discipline.
常見錯誤
2. a calf raised without a rancher's identifying mark burned into its hide, so by t
a calf raised without a rancher's identifying mark burned into its hide, so by tradition it goes to whoever catches and brands it first
The rancher discovered a maverick among his herd and branded it with his mark.
maverick + verb: brand / mark / claim
In the old West, any maverick on open land belonged to whoever caught it.
active verb: maverick belonged to [someone]
Mira's grandfather told stories of rounding up mavericks and branding them by the river.
The maverick had wandered from the herd and stood alone in the canyon.
- stray
emphasises that the animal has wandered away from its herd rather than its branding status
- unbranded calf
a literal description rather than a single word; functionally identical in meaning
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in historical or ranching contexts. The legal tradition that an unbranded calf belongs to whoever brands it first is the historical origin of the word's modern sense.
maverick — adjective
1. choosing to think or act in a way that is different from the usual or expected p
choosing to think or act in a way that is different from the usual or expected patterns within a group, often with a positive suggestion of originality
The professor took a maverick approach to teaching, letting students design their own exams.
attributive: maverick + noun
Isabela's maverick opinions often got her into trouble with the school board.
attributive pattern: maverick opinions / views / stance
The startup succeeded because of its maverick strategy against big competitors.
Despite pressure from colleagues, Dr. Apinya refused to change her maverick stance.
- unconventional
broader — describes anything outside convention, not necessarily courageous or original
- independent
general; omits the suggestion of going against group expectations that maverick carries
- original
focuses on novelty and creativity rather than independence from group norms
- conventional
following accepted standards and doing what is expected
- orthodox
following traditionally accepted beliefs and methods
用法筆記
Almost always used attributively (before a noun such as approach, style, view, or opinion). The adjective form is less common than the noun form and is not used predicatively in standard English — you would say 'He is a maverick', not 'He is maverick'.