gangster
Americannoun
-
gangsters
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of gangster
Compare meaning
How does gangster compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A gangster is a member of a criminal gang. Gangsters are sometimes called mobsters. A gang is a criminal organization, and a member of such a group is a gangster. Gangsters work together to commit robberies and break the law in other ways. Many famous movies, such as The Godfather, are about gangsters. This word often refers specifically to members of criminal gangs of the 1920s and 30s, when organized crime frequently involved the smuggling of alcohol.
Vocabulary lists containing gangster
Least Presidential Vocabulary Used by Presidential Candidates during the GOP Debate (Sept. 16, 2015)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Al Capone Does My Shirts
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ray Liotta (1954–2022) Tribute List
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Vincent Pastore, best known for playing gangster informant Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s “The Sopranos,” has died.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
Soon JJ was spending time with Michael - watching gangster films, playing video games and listening to his stories.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
The script is by Ed Solomon, who also collaborated with Soderbergh on the more action-packed 2021 gangster movie “No Sudden Move.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026
One of the greatest gangster films of all time was nearly marred by tragedy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026
The following year, it even became home to the nation’s most notorious gangster, Al Capone.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
Mr. Starritt packs a lot into his sweeping novel—from underwater turbines to hydrogen-powered rockets, financial meltdowns to renewable-energy startups, Japanese gangsters to Italian cuisine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
But demand has fallen hard for his niche talent of calmly engaging with gangsters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026
Shelby is seen writing a book as a form of therapy, before the world of the Peaky Blinders gangsters "draws him back in, and ultimately his son draws him back into the world", Murphy said.
From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2026
There may have been some male suitors but never any who were gangsters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2026
They were the true “OGs,” as the kids say, the original gangsters, and although the language, colors, and turf have changed dramatically over the last four hundred years, the theme is universal.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
