hoodlum
a thug or gangster.
a young street ruffian, especially one belonging to a gang.
Origin of hoodlum
1Other words from hoodlum
- hood·lum·ish, adjective
- hood·lum·ism, noun
Words Nearby hoodlum
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use hoodlum in a sentence
A hoodlum crashes a pool party that not-so-bright Cameron throws in spite of the recent bloody death of one of his friends.
Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum.
The Story Behind Bobby Rush, the Hoodie-Wearing, Trayvon-Supporting Congressman | Nicholas McCarvel | March 28, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTTruth is, this drink-crazed madman was a hoodlum gunman from Chicago or Saint Louis, that had lost his nerve.
David Lannarck, Midget | George S. HarneyAnd so the Elks, for whom the former hoodlum of Barrel Alley had striven and worked and planned, became a complete patrol at last.
Tom Slade on the River | Percy K. FitzhughHe turned a corner and came to a short, heavy hoodlum backing out of a small liquor store with a knife in throwing position.
Police Your Planet | Lester del Rey
An egg-sized rock hit the truck behind him and bounced back, just as he spotted a hoodlum drawing back a sling for a second shot.
Police Your Planet | Lester del ReyGordon got his head up just in time to see a man in police uniform kick aside the first hoodlum and lunge for the other.
Police Your Planet | Lester del Rey
British Dictionary definitions for hoodlum
/ (ˈhuːdləm) /
a petty gangster or ruffian
a lawless youth
Origin of hoodlum
1Derived forms of hoodlum
- hoodlumism, noun
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
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