gangster
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of gangster
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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
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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.
The Halls believe the posts are designed to project a "gangster image" and gain kudos.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026
El Dorado is controlled by a gangster known only by his first name, Fabio, a Pablo Escobar-type character who has ingratiated himself with locals through acts of charity.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
“He was a cinephile without us, at the time, even knowing what that term meant. He would bring back really good films. He loved the gangster genre,” Vargas says.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
Many of the movies of the era picked up on this theme and offered people solace by turning the tables—especially the new genre of gangster movies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026
In Paris and Western Europe, the story was “essentially a one-day sensation,” with the West German press handling it “as if it were in the Chicago gangster tradition.”
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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.
