Definition

Noun: A youth gang is a group, typically formed by adolescents or teenagers, that engages in social interaction and often collective activities, which may include delinquent or criminal behavior. The defining characteristic is the age of its members.

Usage

The term is used to describe a specific type of gang defined by the youthfulness of its membership. It is often discussed in sociological, criminological, and community contexts. - The city's violence reduction program focuses on outreach to at-risk teens to prevent them from joining a youth gang. - The study examined the social factors that contribute to the formation of youth gangs in urban neighborhoods. - Police identified the suspects as members of a local youth gang.

Advanced Usage

• The concept can be analyzed as a subcultural phenomenon where the gang provides identity, belonging, and status for its young members.
• In academic writing, the term is often used when distinguishing adolescent peer groups involved in delinquency from more organized criminal syndicates run by adults.

Variants and Related Words

• Gang (n): A group of people, especially young people, who associate closely, often exclusively, for social reasons and may engage in antisocial or criminal activities. (A broader term; a is a type of gang).
• Street gang (n): A gang typically based in a specific neighborhood or territory. A is often, but not always, a .
• Crew (n): Sometimes used as a synonym for a smaller or less formal gang, which could be a .
• Delinquent peer group (n): A more formal, clinical, or sociological term that may describe the same social unit without using the word "gang."

Synonyms

• Teen gang
• Adolescent gang
• Juvenile gang (more formal, often used in legal or official contexts)

Related Phrases

• Gang affiliation: The state of being associated with or a member of a gang.
  • The program aims to end youth gang affiliation through mentorship.
• Gang violence: Violent acts perpetrated by or involving gang members.
  • The community meeting addressed the recent spike in youth gang violence.
• Gang prevention: Efforts and programs designed to stop young people from joining gangs.
  • Funding for after-school activities is a key part of youth gang prevention.

Noun

1. a gang whose members are teenagers