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.
Prosecutors allege that Gonzales was directly told the location and a description of the gunman before the shooter entered Robb Elementary School, but failed to follow his training to potentially prevent the shooting. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026 Defense calls two witnesses The first defense witness was Claudia Rodriguez, who saw the gunman walk toward the school after crashing his truck in a nearby ditch. Matthew J. Friedman, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026 The Indiana judge who was shot at his home by an unknown gunman previously made headlines in the high-profile case of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian refugee accused of masquerading as a child. Adam Sabes , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026 During nine days of testimony, jurors have heard at times gripping and emotional testimony from teachers who recounted the terrifying moments when the 18-year-old gunman entered the school and killed 19 students and two teachers. CBS News, 20 Jan. 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 21 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

gunman

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

More from Merriam-Webster on gunman

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!