Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

gunman

American  
[guhn-muhn] / ˈgʌn mən /

noun

plural

gunmen

  1. a person armed with or expert in the use of a gun, gin, gun, especially one ready to use a gun gin gun unlawfully.

  2. a person who makes guns. gun.

gunman British  
/ ˈɡʌnmən /

noun

  1. a man who is armed with a gun, esp unlawfully

  2. a man who is skilled with a gun

  3. a person who makes, repairs, or has expert knowledge of guns

"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

Other Word Forms

  • gunmanship noun

Etymology

Origin of gunman

First recorded in 1615–25; gun 1 + -man

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.

Martin is the second gunman discovered by Secret Service agents at Mar-a-Lago in recent years.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

After the shooting Trump initially called Pretti a "gunman," and other senior US officials claimed the 37-year-old ICU nurse had turned up armed at an enforcement action to try and kill federal agents.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

He said during a prior interview with law enforcement that he didn’t see the gunman as he passed by in a parking lot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Convicted gunman Sirhan Sirhan’s current attorney, Angela Berry, said a team of researchers is combing the files for new evidence.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025

There’s a sweet picture of the gunman as a child.

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak

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.