grognard

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Someone who enjoys playing older war games or roleplaying games, or older versions of such games, when newer ones are available, and often complains frequently about newer games.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

James is such a grognard: he only plays the original edition of Dungeons & Dragons.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “grognard” mean?

Someone who enjoys playing older war games or roleplaying games, or older versions of such games, when newer ones are available, and often complains frequently about newer games.

Is “grognard” formal or informal?

grognard is generally slang.