chain gang

American

noun

a group of convicts chained together, especially when working outside.

chain gang British

noun

a group of convicted prisoners chained together, usually while doing hard labour

"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

Etymology

Origin of chain gang

First recorded in 1825–35

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.

King was arrested in Atlanta and sentenced to four months on a chain gang.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

Ivey noted it’s one of the only remaining places in the country where a chain gang still operates.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 29, 2024

The next year, he joined fellow organizers in protesting segregation in Rock Hill, S.C., where he was arrested and refused bail, serving 30 days of hard labor on a chain gang.

From Washington Post • Oct. 13, 2022

Remote workers aren’t on a chain gang; they’ve just temporarily relocated their workspace.

From Slate • Mar. 17, 2020

She could not go with the chain gang.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023