gunman

noun

gun·​man ˈgən-mən 

1

: a man armed with a gun

especially : a professional killer

2

: a man noted for speed or skill in handling a gun

Examples of gunman in a Sentence

They were shot by an unknown gunman.

Recent Examples on the Web

On that Sabbath morning, a gunman shot his way into the synagogue, shouting antisemitic invective and murdering 11 worshipers from the three congregations sharing the building — Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life. — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

The president spoke for nearly an hour during the annual event, which was rescheduled for Friday night after a gunman fired shots inside the Washington Hilton in April. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026

It is believed that the gunman was targeting the National Football League office. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 28 July 2026

One gunman surrendered after being confronted by police while authorities are searching for another shooter who fled Seattle Center, which was hosting the Bite of Seattle event, Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis said. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gunman

noun

gun·​man -mən 

: a person armed with a gun

especially : an armed criminal