gunman

noun

gun·​man ˈgən-mən How to pronounce gunman (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The alleged gunman’s digital footprint failed to unveil a coherent right-wing or left-wing ideology. Aarushi Bhandari, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025 While Davis’ late nephew, Orlando Anderson, is widely believed to be the gunman responsible for 2Pac‘s murder, Davis has admitted in several interviews, as well as his own memoir, to being present in the vehicle with Anderson at the time of the shooting. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 7 Jan. 2025 On Monday, gunmen shot at a civilian bus and cars passing the Palestinian village of Al-Funduq in the northern West Bank, killing at least three Israelis — a police investigator and two women from a nearby settlement — in what the Israeli authorities described as a terrorist attack. Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025 The victims had close links to the gunman, police said. Stevo Vasiljevic, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for gunman 

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunman was in 1624

Dictionary Entries Near gunman

Cite this Entry

“Gunman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunman. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

gunman

noun
gun·​man -mən How to pronounce gunman (audio)
: a person armed with a gun
especially : an armed criminal
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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