Definition

1. Noun:
   • A group of laborers assigned to work on road construction, maintenance, or repair: A "road gang" specifically refers to a crew or team of workers whose primary task is building, fixing, or maintaining roads and highways.

Usage

• The term is used to describe the collective workforce on road projects, often implying manual labor. It is a straightforward compound noun where "road" specifies the type of work and "gang" denotes a group of workers.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The county sent a road gang to fill the potholes on Main Street.
  • Safety is a major concern for the road gang working near fast-moving traffic.

Advanced Usage

• Historically, the term "chain gang" was used for groups of prisoners performing forced labor, often on roads. While "road gang" is neutral, its association with manual labor crews can sometimes evoke this historical context, though it is not inherent to the term's primary definition.

Variants and Related Words

• Road crew: A more modern and common synonym for a group of road workers.
• Maintenance crew: A broader term for workers maintaining infrastructure.
• Work gang: A general term for a group of laborers assigned to a specific task.

Synonyms

• Road crew
• Highway maintenance team
• Roadwork crew

Related Phrases

• On the gang: A colloquial phrase meaning to be part of a work crew, which can apply to a road gang.
  • He's been on the road gang for ten years.

Noun

1. a gang of road workers