gangster

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

Also seen as: gangsta

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A member of a criminal or street gang.

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

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

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A member of a professional criminal organization (in organized crime): a racketeer.

Sources & notes

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

Common questions

What does “gangster” mean?

A member of a criminal or street gang.

Is “gangster” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.