Definitions

1. adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of a roguish or dishonest character in a work of fiction, typically a young adventurer or vagabond.

“The picaresque hero’s adventures in the 18th-century novel captivated readers for centuries.”

2. noun

a novel or other work of fiction that features a roguish or dishonest hero, often a young adventurer or vagabond.

“The author’s picaresque novels were inspired by her own experiences on the road.”