# Roger

/ˈɹɑdʒɝ/ (US) · /ɹˈɒdʒɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/roger
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. message received

interjection · CEFR B1

you say this on a radio or walkie-talkie to show you have heard and understood a message.

For teachers: a procedural word used in radiotelephony to acknowledge that a transmission has been received and understood.

- "Roger that, we are heading to your location now," the pilot replied.
- The ground crew confirmed the coordinates with a crisp "roger" before initiating the final approach sequence.

Usage: Often followed by 'that' in modern informal speech, though 'roger' alone is the standard radio procedure.

### 2. to acknowledge

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to say 'roger' to someone to show you understand them.

For teachers: to acknowledge a message or instruction by using the term 'roger'.

- The captain rogered the instructions and adjusted the ship's course.
- After the dispatcher rogered the emergency call, backup units were immediately diverted to the scene.

Usage: Transitive verb taking the message or the speaker as the object.

### 3. sexual intercourse

verb · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Vulgar

a very rude and old-fashioned British word for having sex.

For teachers: to engage in sexual intercourse. The term is highly informal and carries a coarse, aggressive, or vulgar connotation.

- He made a crude joke about rogering someone he met at the pub.
- The character in the bawdy eighteenth-century novel was frequently described as rogering his way across the countryside.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to British English and is considered very offensive or crude in polite company; learners should avoid using it.

### 4. the letter R

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Archaic

the word used for the letter 'R' when spelling things out over a radio.

For teachers: the phonetic code word for the letter 'R' in older radiotelephony alphabets, now largely replaced by 'Romeo'.

- In the old code, the initials were 'Roger' and 'Sugar'.
- The veteran operator still used 'Roger' for 'R' out of habit, despite the adoption of the modern NATO phonetic alphabet.

Usage: Used as a proper noun in the context of spelling codes.

## Examples

- He joked about wanting to roger the character in the book.
- The old comedy sketch relied on double meanings, using the name of the gardener to imply someone might roger the lady of the house.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.