gangster

noun

gang·​ster ˈgaŋ-stər How to pronounce gangster (audio)
: a member of a gang of criminals : racketeer
gangsterdom noun
gangsterish adjective
gangsterism noun

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What is the history of the word gangster?

Gangster came into the English language at the latter portion of the 19th century, as one of what is now a large parcel of words which have been formed by adding the noun combining form –ster to an existing word. The ending -ster has a number of possible meanings (“one that does, handles, or operates,” “one that makes or uses,” “one that is associated with or participates in,” “one that is”), and one of its interesting elements is that it has, in many cases, shifted its gender. This second portion of gangster comes from the Old English -estre, meaning “female agent.” The word tapster ("a bartender"), for instance, was tæppestre in Old English, and designated a barmaid, or female tapster. In modern use the addition of -ster may often be found in a gender-neutral sense, as with hipster, or with implications of masculinity, as with gangster and mobster, through prevalence of usage.

Examples of gangster in a Sentence

Al Capone remains one of the most notorious gangsters in American history.
Recent Examples on the Web Set in Los Angeles' San Gabriel Valley, the eight-episode debut season starred Yeoh as Eileen, the matriarch of a family of Taipei gangsters who plots her rise as the head of a powerful triad following an assassination attempt against her estranged husband. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2024 Pavel began as a development executive at HBO Romania, working on such series as the gangster drama Umbre and Hackerville, before going on to produce a variety of shows, from the romantic drama Ruxx to Spy/Master. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024 But in the late 1920s and early 1930s gangsters began using them for their criminal activities, often terrorizing the streets. Nina Totenberg, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, Katagiri is recruited by a new task force that takes a more confrontational tack toward gangster activity, signaling a sea change in law enforcement’s approach. Alison Herman, Variety, 8 Feb. 2024 Made on a shoestring budget and shot over a little more than a week, it was lapped up for giving a uniquely dark and hilarious twist to the standard gangster flick while adding splashes of U.K. kitchen-sink social realism into the mix. Alex Ritman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 The White Lotus star Theo James has to extricate his aristocratic family from the clutches of a criminal underworld in the official trailer for The Gentlemen, Guy Ritchie’s gangster romp for Netflix based on the Hollywood director’s 2019 film of the same name. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Della Reese, Jasmine Guy, and Arsenio Hall in a movie that’s part 1930s gangster film, part heist movie, and part rom-com. Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2024 As ultra-serious gangster boss Marsellus Wallace, Rhames had one of the wildest (and bloodiest) storylines in the film. Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gangster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

gang entry 1 + -ster

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gangster was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near gangster

Cite this Entry

“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangster. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gangster

noun
gang·​ster ˈgaŋ-stər How to pronounce gangster (audio)
: a member of a gang of criminals : racketeer
gangsterism noun

Legal Definition

gangster

noun
gang·​ster
: a member of a gang of criminals

More from Merriam-Webster on gangster

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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