gunman

noun

gun·​man ˈgən-mən How to pronounce gunman (audio)
1
: a man armed with a gun
especially : a professional killer
2
: a man noted for speed or skill in handling a gun

Examples of gunman in a Sentence

They were shot by an unknown gunman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Londoño describes how a gunman posing as law enforcement went to the homes of several state politicians, killing Hortman and her husband Mark and gravely injuring Democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Fiction Non Fiction june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025 An unknown gunman shot the boy while inside an apartment on the 6400 block of South Ingleside Avenue just after 6 p.m., police said. Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025 The gunman shot victim Tamika Powell in the head near the corner of Carlton Ave. Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025 In May, a gunman shot and killed two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for gunman

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunman was in 1624

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Cite this Entry

“Gunman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunman. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

gunman

noun
gun·​man -mən How to pronounce gunman (audio)
: a person armed with a gun
especially : an armed criminal

More from Merriam-Webster on gunman

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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