Dictionary.com

badman

[ bad-man ]
/ ˈbædˌmæn /

noun, plural bad·men.

a bandit, outlaw, desperado, etc., especially in the early history of the western U.S.

QUIZZES

BEAT THE DOLDRUMS WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We know you’ll tackle this quiz totis viribus! See how many words from the week of Oct 12–18, 2020 you get right!
Question 1 of 7
What does “Indigenous” mean?
characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction.
carried on abroad, or with other countries.
relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of badman

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; bad1 + man

Words nearby badman

badlands, Badlands National Park, bad luck, badly, badly off, badman, badmash, badminton, bad-mouth, bad name, bad news

Definition for badman (2 of 2)

bad man

noun Older Use.

(sometimes initial capital letters) the devil.
the bogeyman.

Origin of bad man

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for badman

British Dictionary definitions for badman

badman
/ (ˈbædˌmæn) /

noun plural -men

mainly US a hired gunman, outlaw, or criminal
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012