chain gang

noun

plural chain gangs

: a group of people (such as convicts) chained together especially as an outside working party

Examples of chain gang in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The old-school chain gang will remain a sideline staple for the time being, there for players and those in the stadium to still use as an ever-present measuring stick, and for the league in case of tech failure. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 26 Aug. 2025

The song's combination of folk-soul lyricism, driven by funky hip-hop breaks, was inspired by the spirituals sung by enslaved people on prison chain gangs. —Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

The chain gang is much faster and more entertaining. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2025

First downs will no longer be measured by a chain gang, who have been replaced by Sony’s Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system (the system was used in July’s Hall of Fame game). —Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chain gang

• harangue
• orang
• bang
• chuang
• clang
• dang
• drang
• fang
• gangue
• hang
• hange
• kang

Legal Definition

chain gang

noun

: a group of convicts chained together especially to work outside a prison