Ronin

Ronin (浪人) is the word used to describe a kind of samurai without a master. Hundreds of years ago in Japan, it was very important for every samurai to have a master. It also refers to somebody who has failed their university entrance exams and is studying for the next year's exams.

A painting depicting the 47 Ronins crossing the Eitai Bridge after an attack on Kira's Mansion by Tashiro Kogai

Etymology

The word rōnin is often translated as 'drifter' or 'wanderer.' It combines two kanji: rō (浪), meaning "wave" or "unrestrained," and nin (人), meaning "person." Originally, it referred to serfs who had escaped their masters during the Nara and Heian periods. Later, it described samurai without a master. In medieval times, rōnin were seen as the shadowy figures of samurai, lacking honor and belonging.