# rover

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹəʊvə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #10,272

## Definitions
1. A randomly selected target.
2. One who roves, a wanderer, a nomad.
3. A vagabond, a tramp, an unsteady, restless person, one who by habit doesn't settle down or marry.
4. A vehicle for exploring extraterrestrial bodies.
5. A remotely-operated vehicle.
6. A position that is one of three of a team's followers, who follow the ball around the ground. Formerly a position for short players, rovers in professional leagues are frequently over 183 cm (6').
7. A defensive back position whose coverage responsibilities are a hybrid of those of a cornerback, safety and linebacker.
8. A ball which has passed through all the hoops and would go out if it hit the stake but is continued in play; also, the player of such a ball.
9. The tenth defensive player in slow-pitch softball.
10. A sort of arrow.

## Etymology
From Middle English roven (“to wander, to shoot an arrow randomly”) + -er.

## Easily confused with
- **Rowe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rover-vs-rowe)
- **ruler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rover-vs-ruler)
- **ryder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rover-vs-ryder)
- **rower** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rover-vs-rower)
- **rowed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rover-vs-rowed)
- **roe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roe-vs-rover)
- **rose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rose-vs-rover)
- **Rome** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rome-vs-rover)
- **rope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rope-vs-rover)
- **rode** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rode-vs-rover)
- **roar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roar-vs-rover)
- **rave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rave-vs-rover)
- **robe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/robe-vs-rover)
- **rote** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rote-vs-rover)
- **rove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rove-vs-rover)
- **river** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/river-vs-rover)
- **refer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refer-vs-rover)
- **roles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roles-vs-rover)
- **roger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roger-vs-rover)
- **rider** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rider-vs-rover)

## Common misspellings (7)
`orver`, `roevr`, `roverr`, `rovre`, `rovver`, `rrover`, `rvoer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/rover