gang

¹ American  

[gang] / gæŋ /

noun

gangs plural

1. a group or band.

   A gang of boys gathered around the winning pitcher.

   Synonyms:

   coterie, clique, circle, set, party, band, crew, crowd, company

2. a group of youngsters or adolescents who associate closely, often exclusively, for social reasons, especially such a group engaging in delinquent behavior.

3. a group of people with compatible tastes or mutual interests who gather together for social reasons.

   I'm throwing a party for the gang I bowl with.

4. a group of persons working together; squad; shift.

   a gang of laborers.

   Synonyms:

   team

5. a group of persons associated for some criminal or other antisocial purpose.

   a gang of thieves.

6. a set of tools, electronic components or circuits, oars, etc., arranged to work together or simultaneously.

7. a group of identical or related items.

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verb (used with object)

1. to arrange in groups or sets; form into a gang.

   to gang illustrations for more economical printing on one sheet.

2. to attack in a gang.

verb (used without object)

1. to form or act as a gang.

   Cutthroats who gang together hang together.

verb phrase

1. gang up on (of a number of persons) to unite in opposition to (a person); combine against.

   The bigger boys ganged up on the smaller ones in the schoolyard.

gang ² American  

[gang] / gæŋ /

verb (used without object)

Chiefly Scot. and North England.

1. to walk or go.

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gang ¹ British  

/ ɡæŋ /

noun

1. a group of people who associate together or act as an organized body, esp for criminal or illegal purposes

2. an organized group of workmen

3. a herd of buffaloes or elks or a pack of wild dogs

4. a group of shearers who travel to different shearing sheds, shearing, classing, and baling wool

5. 1. a series of similar tools arranged to work simultaneously in parallel

   2. ( as modifier )

      a gang saw

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verb

1. to form into, become part of, or act as a gang

2. (tr) electronics to mount (two or more components, such as variable capacitors) on the same shaft, permitting adjustment by a single control

gang ² British  

/ ɡæŋ /

verb

1. to go

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gang ³ British  

/ ɡæŋ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of gangue

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gang Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing gang

• like gangbusters

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ganged
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• gangs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gang¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gang, gong, Old English gang, gong “manner of going, way, passage”; cognate with Old High German gang, Old Norse gangr, Gothic gagg; cf. gang ²

Origin of gang²

First recorded before 900; Middle English gangen, Old English gangan, gongan; cognate with Old High German gangan, Old Norse ganga, Gothic gaggan; cf. gang ¹ (noun derivative from same root)

Explanation

A gang is an association or group of criminals. Often, members of one gang will fight violently with another gang. People join gangs for the sense of belonging, as well as for protection by other members. A gang usually claims an area as its territory and defends it against other gangs or unaffiliated criminals. You can also use gang for a group of friends or workers: "A whole gang of us went to the movies together." The Old English root, gang, means "journey." Today's definition comes from the idea of "a band of people traveling together."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gang gangs

I don’t know — it just seemed like there aren’t too many people outside of me and my gang that would be useful if that actually came through.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Political upheaval gave way to gang violence following the 2021 assassination of Haiti’s president, resulting in more Haitians seeking the status in the early 2020s.

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026

Here’s hoping for a sequel in which Gail’s gang runs into the cast of “Wicked.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

However the effectiveness of those sentences has come under increased scrutiny this week as it emerged one former gang ringleader in Rochdale had been released early.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

“And I wouldn’t have gone back to my lessons with her without you guys. I’ll owe the gang for that for a long time.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Smuggling gangs are taking greater risks than ever, with the number of people they are cramming into unseaworthy boats rising year on year."

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

She inherits the task of running a country hit by powerful organized crime gangs and chronic political instability, as it burned through eight presidents in the past decade.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

President Daniel Noboa started a second term in May 2025, and has since pursued a highly visible, militarized fight against the country’s powerful drug gangs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Midy recalls "an atmosphere of peace" and that gangs seemed "ready to turn the page and cease fire for two days".

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

All the young men standing around that are involved in gangs wouldn’t be a problem if they had jobs.

From "Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago" by LeAlan Jones

Related Words

• band
• bunch
• clan
• clique
• company
• crew
• organization
• party
• ring
• squad
• syndicate
• team
• tribe
• troop