Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 23, 2026, is maverick. A maverick is defined as a person who refuses to follow the customs or rules of a group, essentially a nonconformist. An example illustrates this with Ayo, a fashion influencer who invents trends instead of adhering to them. Luis Alvarez, a physicist, is also described as a maverick, with his reputation built on patience and discipline. The origin of the word traces back to Samuel A. Maverick, a 19th-century Texas lawyer. He was given cattle but left them unbranded, allowing them to roam freely. Neighbors took advantage of this, branding and claiming the stray animals. Maverick eventually sold his diminished herd. His name became associated with these unbranded, stray livestock. By the late 19th century, the term maverick was applied to individuals who, like those untamed cattle, forge their own paths independently.