hangman

noun

hang·​man ˈhaŋ-mən 

1

: one who hangs a condemned person

also : a public executioner

2

: a game in which the object is for one player to guess the letters of an unknown word before the player who knows the word creates a stick figure of a hanged man by drawing one line for each incorrect guess

Examples of hangman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But since taking office, the president has been tightening up his definition of freedom like a hangman’s noose. —Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025

Our staff plays hangman to pass some time. —R29 Team, refinery29.com, 7 Mar. 2025

They got engaged in May 2016 After two years of dating, Adam proposed to Jessica during a game of hangman. —Emily Weaver, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025

Then, while in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Dean and DeLuca Invitational in May 2016, the pair challenged each other to hangman on a hotel pad of paper. —Emily Weaver, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hangman

noun

hang·​man ˈhaŋ-mən 

1

: a person who hangs condemned criminals

2

: a game in which the object is for one player to guess the letters of an unknown word before the player who knows the word creates a stick figure of a hanged man by drawing one line for each incorrect guess