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; goose )
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
As gonzo journalist Hunter Thompson quipped in 1988, “Yesterday’s weirdness is tomorrow’s reason why.”
From Salon • Feb. 24, 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
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.
