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What is the history of the word gangster?
Gangster came into the English language at the latter portion of the 19th century, as one of what is now a large parcel of words which have been formed by adding the noun combining form –ster to an existing word. The ending -ster has a number of possible meanings (“one that does, handles, or operates,” “one that makes or uses,” “one that is associated with or participates in,” “one that is”), and one of its interesting elements is that it has, in many cases, shifted its gender. This second portion of gangster comes from the Old English -estre, meaning “female agent.” The word tapster ("a bartender"), for instance, was tæppestre in Old English, and designated a barmaid, or female tapster. In modern use the addition of -ster may often be found in a gender-neutral sense, as with hipster, or with implications of masculinity, as with gangster and mobster, through prevalence of usage.
Examples of gangster in a Sentence
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Beset by gangs and guns, the Haçienda faltered in the ’90s despite clever-sounding schemes such as replacing the club’s security with the gangsters themselves.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026
The gangsters grew powerful running liquor during Prohibition.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026
But by the time events with Timothée Chalamet’s Marty come to a head, Ferrara has drawn a sinister character — a gangster with a hair-trigger finger on his gun who will kill to get back his dog and money, in that order.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Cite this Entry
“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangster. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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