Did you know?
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.
Synonyms
Examples of gangster in a Sentence
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025
His involvement with Max (Laura Haddock) thrusts him on an international journey that puts him at odds with both Russian gangsters and his own colleagues in intelligence.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 30 Jan. 2025
Coolidge plays the ex-wife of a former mobster, played by Ed Harris, who tries to warn her family that two gangsters (Pete Davidson and Bill Murray) from their past are out to get them.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2025
Rubino and four other Genovese gangsters pleaded guilty in the case in April.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gangster 
Dictionary Entries Near gangster
Cite this Entry
“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangster. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share