gonzo

adjective

gon·​zo ˈgän-(ˌ)zō How to pronounce gonzo (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or being a style of journalism marked by a lack of objectivity due to the writer's immersion in the subject and often participation in the activity being documented
gonzo journalism
a gonzo journalist
2
informal
a
: outlandishly unconventional, outrageous, or extreme
a gonzo comedian
b
: very strange or unusual : bizarre
gonzo notions

Examples of gonzo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Perhaps owing to these gonzo genetics, apples are remarkably susceptible to disease and rot. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 8 June 2020 Eugene Levy portrayed Johnny with an owlish deadpan, and Catherine O’Hara, his frequent collaborator on the Canadian sketch circuit, granted Moira a loopy flair, an unplaceable accent, and a gonzo lexicon. Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2020 Its late #MeToo turn seems a bit tacked on, but its provocations feel right for a 2019 book about adults, students, and power; a bit of righteous rage coursing through a story in which its author wields gonzo confidence. David Canfield, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2019 Expect gonzo adventure and cutting-edge mathematical ideas, plus a literal million-mile road trip. Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2019 Midnight Madness will close with a world premiere for Isaac Nabwana’s gonzo action flick Crazy World. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2019 In the gonzo math of climate change, two flights plus a water crossing produce fewer moral emissions than one flight. Kyle Smith, National Review, 26 Sep. 2019 Saturday’s masquerade may be a costume maker’s nirvana, but every day at the Con is chockablock with gonzo wardrobes, seductive graphics, stunning animations. Tribune News Service, cleveland.com, 18 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gonzo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gonzo was in 1971

Dictionary Entries Near gonzo

Cite this Entry

“Gonzo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gonzo. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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