gunman

noun

gun·​man ˈgən-mən How to pronounce gunman (audio)
Synonyms of gunmannext
1
: a man armed with a gun
especially : a professional killer
2
: a man noted for speed or skill in handling a gun

Examples of gunman in a Sentence

They were shot by an unknown gunman.
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.
Altman apologized to the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, for not alerting law enforcement about the gunman's account, which was banned months before the shooting after it was flagged for potentially using the chatbot for violent activities. Alex Sundby, CBS News, 11 May 2026 The attack in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, erupted after a suicide bomber, backed by several gunmen, detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the security post, triggering a shootout. ABC News, 11 May 2026 The gunman, described as between 20 to 25 years old, fled on foot. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026 The gunman was identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gunman

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunman was in 1590

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gunman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunman. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

gunman

noun
gun·​man -mən How to pronounce gunman (audio)
: a person armed with a gun
especially : an armed criminal

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