gangland

noun

gang·​land ˈgaŋ-ˌland How to pronounce gangland (audio)
-lənd
: the world of organized crime
a gangland killing

Examples of gangland in a Sentence

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.
Many of these battles played out in fits of gangland violence. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 That's the sort of movie magic Quentin Tarantino conjured in this LA gangland game-changer. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026 The Los Angeles Times reported that in 1974, there were more gangland-style killings in Vegas than there had been in all the prior 25 years combined. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 23 June 2026 The gangland drama is deeper and darker than the domestic one, strengthened by the unexpected portrayal of the Russian toughs as bumbling in their own way. — Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gangland

Word History

Etymology

gang entry 1 + land entry 1

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gangland was in 1912

Browse Nearby Words

gangion
gangland
gangle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gangland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangland. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gangland

noun
gang·​land ˈgaŋ-ˌland How to pronounce gangland (audio)
-lənd
: the world of organized crime

Legal Definition

gangland

noun
gang·​land ˈgaŋ-ˌland How to pronounce gangland (audio)
often attributive
: the world of organized crime

More from Merriam-Webster on gangland

Nglish: Translation of gangland for Spanish Speakers

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