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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
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
Delroy Lindo introduced the section on Jordan’s most recent film, the smash hit Sinners, for which there is lots of Oscar buzz for his dual role as twin gangsters-turned-entrepreneurs.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
In season one, the death of Constable Gerry Cliff—shot by gangster Sully when trying to apprehend a drug deal—shook fans.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025
Part gangster thriller, part love story, the low-budget feature from Godard starring Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo galvanized a movement of New Wave filmmakers in France with its experimental filmmaking, from chaotic jumpshots to the actors who learned their lines on the fly.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Cite this Entry
“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangster. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
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