The word maverick comes from Samuel Maverick , a 19th-century Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle. Over time, “ maverick ” came to mean anyone who acts independently or refuses to follow the crowd. Examples Steve Jobs was considered a maverick in the tech industry. (Noun) Her maverick approach to filmmaking set her apart from others. A maverick is a rebel, someone who shows a lot of independence. A maverick on a motorcycle might blaze her own trail, traveling around the country and earning money by performing in rodeos. Maverick can mean a person who acts independently and differently from others, or a young cow that has not been branded. Learn more about the word's origin, usage and related terms with Cambridge Dictionary. Maverick definition : an unbranded calf, cow, or steer, especially an unbranded calf that is separated from its mother.. See examples of MAVERICK used in a sentence.