Definition

1. Noun:
   • A member of a criminal gang: A person, typically involved in organized crime, who belongs to a group that engages in illegal activities such as violence, extortion, or drug trafficking.

Usage

• The word "gangster" specifically refers to an individual who is part of a criminal organization or gang. It carries connotations of organized crime, violence, and a lifestyle outside the law, often glamorized in popular culture.
• It is used as a countable noun.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The notorious gangster was finally arrested after a decade-long crime spree.
  • Movies about 1920s gangsters often depict the Prohibition era.
  • He was accused of living like a gangster, intimidating local business owners.

Advanced Usage

• "Gangster rap": A subgenre of hip-hop music that emerged in the late 1980s, characterized by lyrics focusing on the violent lifestyles and hardships of inner-city gangsters.
  • The album is considered a classic of gangster rap.
• "Mob gangster" / "Organized crime gangster": Terms used to specify a gangster who is part of a large, structured criminal syndicate like the Mafia.
  • He was a high-ranking mob gangster with connections across the city.

Variants and Related Words

• Gangsterism (n): The practices, methods, or culture associated with gangsters; organized criminal activity.
  • The rise in gangsterism was linked to economic depression.
• Gangland (n): The world of organized crime and the gangs involved in it.
  • The murder was a gangland execution.

Synonyms

• Mobster: A member of an organized crime syndicate; very similar to "gangster" but often implies a more structured criminal organization.
• Criminal: A general term for a person who has committed a crime.
• Hoodlum: A violent criminal or troublemaker, often a member of a gang.
• Racketeer: A person who engages in dishonest and fraudulent business dealings, often as part of organized crime.

Related Phrases

• "Wise guy": (Slang) A member of the Mafia or a similar criminal organization; often used in the context of Italian-American organized crime.
  • He was a wise guy who never talked to the police.
• "Gangster's moll": (Historical/Informal) A gangster's female companion or girlfriend.
  • In the old films, the gangster's moll was often portrayed as glamorous.

Idioms

• "Go gangster": (Informal/Slang) To adopt a ruthless, intimidating, or criminal approach to achieve something.
  • When negotiations failed, he decided to go gangster and threaten his competitors.
• "Play the gangster": To act in a threatening or intimidating manner to get what one wants.
  • You can't just play the gangster every time you have a disagreement.

Noun

1. a criminal who is a member of gang