cocaine cowboy

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A cocaine smuggler or dealer whose activities are likely to lead them into violent confrontations.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

It has shown up repeatedly in cocaine cowboy shootouts in public places and in the execution of whole families, including infants.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “cocaine cowboy” mean?

A cocaine smuggler or dealer whose activities are likely to lead them into violent confrontations.

Is “cocaine cowboy” formal or informal?

cocaine cowboy is generally slang.