gonzo
Americanadjective
-
(of journalism, reportage, etc.) filled with bizarre or subjective ideas, commentary, or the like.
noun
adjective
-
wild or crazy
-
(of journalism) explicitly including the writer's feelings at the time of witnessing the events or undergoing the experiences written about
noun
Etymology
Origin of gonzo
An Americanism first recorded in 1970–75; apparently from the phrase Gonzo journalism used by U.S. journalist Hunter S. Thompson (1939–2005); perhaps from Italian: “simpleton, one easily duped” (of uncertain origin) or from Spanish ganso “a lazy or dull person,” literally, “goose” (from Germanic; see goose)
Explanation
Gonzo means bizarre or unconventional, like your wacky friend's gonzo style of dressing or the gonzo stories in the news that make you want to shut your laptop and turn off the TV. The adjective gonzo first appeared in print in a 1971 Rolling Stone article by Hunter S. Thompson — it was both the name of a character, "Dr. Gonzo," and a writing style, "gonzo journalism," which gained popularity over the next decade. Gonzo journalism had an exaggerated, nonobjective style, often featuring the writer as part of the story. Thompson credited the term gonzo to a Boston Globe editor who claimed it was Boston slang for "bizarre."
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.
Like so many horror trends, these gonzo cat-and-mouse games are a unique product of our time.
From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026
This is a gonzo genre picture, a horror-romance painted with comic-book hyperbole.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026
On the James Whale Radio Show, the presenter was a cross between a shock jock, talk show host, gonzo roving reporter and working men's club MC.
From BBC • Aug. 4, 2025
Perhaps not when the options include Fargeat’s gonzo work on “The Substance” and RaMell Ross’ expressionistic approach to “Nickel Boys,” a movie that feels like the most-directed film of the year.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2025
As gonzo journalist Norman Mailer wrote at the time, "Either the convention was sewn up for Humphrey or the convention was soft. No one really knew."
From Salon • Aug. 18, 2024
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.
