Maverick
/ˈmævərɪk/
nounadjectiveC1
Definition
A maverick is someone who does not follow the usual way of thinking or behaving. This person often acts independently, making their own choices without caring much about what others expect. The word can also describe ideas, actions, or styles that are different from the normal or accepted ones.
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See It in Action
A person who acts independently and does not follow the crowd or rules
- •She is a maverick in the fashion world, always creating new styles.
- •The politician was seen as a maverick because he often voted against his party.
- •As a maverick, he refused to accept the usual way of doing business.
Describing behavior or ideas that are independent and unusual
- •The company took a maverick approach to marketing that surprised everyone.
- •His maverick style of painting did not fit into any traditional category.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "maverick" like "different" but with a strong sense of independence—not just different, but choosing to be that way on purpose
- ✓Picture a lone cowboy riding away from the group, making his own path in the wide open land
- ✓It’s the feeling when you decide to do something your own way, even if others don’t agree or follow
- ✓Sounds like "MAV-er-ick" → imagine a "maverick" waving a flag alone on a mountain, standing out from the crowd below
- ✓Think of famous people like Steve Jobs, who were mavericks because they created new ideas instead of copying others
- ✓NOT like "rebel" (which often means breaking rules to fight authority), "maverick" means independent thinking without always opposing authority
- ✓NOT like "outsider" (someone who is not part of a group), mavericks can be part of groups but still keep their own unique ideas
- ✓NOT like "conformist" (someone who follows rules), mavericks do the opposite—they break from the usual patterns
Try Other Words
- •Nonconformist: a person who does not follow accepted rules or customs (Use when emphasizing breaking social or cultural rules)
- •Individualist: a person who values their own independence and uniqueness (Use when focusing on personal identity and uniqueness)
- •Rebel: someone who opposes authority or rules (Use when the action is against authority or rules, more aggressive than maverick)
- •Iconoclast: a person who challenges established beliefs or traditions (Use in formal or intellectual contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix) — "maverick" is a full word itself
- •Etymology: From Samuel Maverick, a 19th-century Texas rancher known for not branding his cattle, so they were independent and unmarked
- •Historical development: The name "Maverick" became a term for cattle without brands, then for people who act independently without following rules
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people or things that are independent, original, or unorthodox in behavior or ideas
Reflect & Connect
•Can being a maverick be both a good and a bad thing? In what situations?
•How do you think being a maverick affects relationships with others and group work?
Fill in the blanks
1.A maverick often chooses to ___ the usual rules and do things their own way.
2.When someone is called a maverick, it usually means they have a ___ way of thinking.
3.Unlike a rebel, a maverick does not always ___ against authority but acts independently.
4.The company’s maverick strategy was very ___ compared to its competitors.
5.Mavericks often feel comfortable being ___ from the crowd.
6.People respect a maverick when they show ___ and creativity in their work.
7.If someone always follows group ideas, they are the opposite of a maverick and tend to ___ with others.