Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

gangster

American  
[gang-ster] / ˈgæŋ stər /

noun

  1. a member of a gang of criminals, especially a racketeer in an organized crime syndicate.

    Synonyms:
    goon, hood, thug, crook, hoodlum, mobster
gangster British  
/ ˈɡæŋstə /

noun

  1. a member of an organized gang of criminals, esp one who resorts to violence

"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 gangster

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; gang 1 + -ster

Compare meaning

How does gangster compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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.

Mueenuddin, whose gift for satire shines whether he’s describing society matrons or gangsters, never loses sight of his theme: How do any of us ever manage to justify our treatment of the underserved?

From Los Angeles Times

He has his defenses up, he has his heart guarded, Smoke’s been through war, Smoke’s been through the gangster stuff in Chicago, but Elijah lost his daughter.

From Los Angeles Times

Critics say the links between Karachi’s gangsters and Islamist terrorists are overdrawn, that the real Karachi is far less glamorous than its Bollywood incarnation, and that one character’s Punjabi accent isn’t quite right.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Never in your life label me a thug again. Never label me a wannabe gangster," he said.

From BBC

“Have gangsters taken hold of the place? Your policemen are so tough they can lift a bull by the horns. Surely they can restore order if there are any gangsters around.”

From Literature

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.