gangster

[gang-ster] /ˈgæŋ stər/
noun
1.
a member of a gang of criminals, especially a racketeer.
Origin
1895-1900, Americanism; gang1 + -ster
Synonyms
mobster, hoodlum, crook, thug; hood, goon.
Examples from the web for gangster
  • The gangster rappers take the money and the opprobrium, while the bohemians get the critical raves but can't sell records.
  • In a newspaper interview he defended himself against accusations that he was a gangster.
  • The intertwined stories of people drawn together one night after a gangster is murdered.
  • Those reading this who think academia is above such gangster politics are sadly mistaken.
  • We are the reason why no gangster is living in paradise.
  • The characters' outsized actions seem quite natural when those characters are fervent, gun-toting gangster kids.
  • Even small children greet each other with gangster hand signals.
  • Soon, he took on the mannerisms of a gangster, and began to act tough and talk out of the corner of his mouth.
  • The promoters, for security reasons, wanted an upscale crowd without too many gangster overtones.
  • Tells how he became obsessed with gang life and was irked that he was not seen as a gangster.
British Dictionary definitions for gangster

gangster

/ˈɡæŋstə/
noun
1.
a member of an organized gang of criminals, esp one who resorts to violence
Word Origin and History for gangster
n.

1896, American English, from gang in its criminal sense + -ster.

Slang definitions & phrases for gangster

gangster

modifier

: gangster movie/ the gangster menace

noun
  1. A member of a criminal gang; an organized-crime figure; mobster, wiseguy (1908+)
  2. A marijuana cigarette: Just go on and smoke that gangster and be real cool (1950s+ Narcotics)