gangbanger

[gang-bang-er]

noun

Slang.

1. a member of a violent street gang.

2. a person who participates in a sexual gangbang.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gangbanger¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35 gangbanger ( for def. 1 ), and to 1965–70 gangbanger ( for def. 2 ); gang ¹ ( ) + bang ¹ ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Another Post piece focused on “a 12-year-old pintsized gangbanger accused of being the ringleader of a Central Park robbery crew” who lived at the Roosevelt with his family.

From Slate

And in a masterstroke of lucky timing, Lefty Gunplay dropped his new album, “Most Valuable Gangbanger,” the same day the “GNX” landed.

From Los Angeles Times

You didn’t have to be a gangbanger to get that kind of treatment.

From Los Angeles Times

“On the gangbanger side, you wanna be the man. You wanna be known. You want people to fear you,” Philpott said.

From Los Angeles Times

Johnson was never a gangbanger; he was one of those unsupervised boys who was “just around,” spending his time on the corner of Bassett and Dixwell, the center of his world.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• delinquent 
• gangster 
• hoodlum 
• hooligan 
• troublemaker