A rōnin (浪人, "drifter" or "wanderer") was a samurai without lord or master during the feudal period (1185–1868) of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege.
In modern Japanese usage, the term also describes a salaryman who is unemployed or a secondary school graduate who has not yet been admitted to university.