goon

[goon]

noun

1. Informal.,  a hired hoodlum or thug.

2. Slang.

   1. a stupid, foolish, or awkward person.

   2. a rough, coarse person; roughneck.

goon

¹

/ ɡuːn /

noun

1. a stupid or deliberately foolish person

2. informal,  a thug hired to commit acts of violence or intimidation, esp in an industrial dispute

goon

²

noun

1. informal,  cheap wine packaged in casks or boxed

Word History and Origins

Origin of goon¹

First recorded in 1920–25; shortened from dialectal gooney, variant of obsolete gony “a simpleton” (of unknown origin); influenced by the comic-strip character Alice the Goon in the series Thimble Theatre by E. C. Segar (1894–1938), American cartoonist

Word History and Origins

Origin of goon¹

C20: partly from dialect gooney fool, partly after the character Alice the Goon, created by E. C. Segar (1894–1938), American cartoonist

Example Sentences

The "Gen Z" movement alleges, however, that paid goons had looted various buildings in order to undermine their cause.

From BBC

But seconds before the hired goons fire their rifles, George calls off his murderous threat.

From Salon

Private sector workers won the right to form unions and strike under the National Labor Relations Board, largely ending the union-busting and goon violence of decades past.

From Salon

In a better world, the government would take concrete measures to protect its people from predictable, recurring hazards instead of throwing our tax dollars at goons running down children in a city park.

From Salon

It also highlighted the role of opportunists who infiltrated the protests – described as "goons" – who "undermined the principles of peaceful assembly".

From BBC

Related Words

• hooligan 
• thug 

When To Use

What does goon mean?

Don't be a goon! That is, don't be a "fool" or an "oaf."Hired muscle, gangsters, and tough-guy hockey players are often called goons, too.