gunslinger

noun

gun·​sling·​er ˈgən-ˌsliŋ-ər How to pronounce gunslinger (audio)
: a person noted for speed and skill in handling and shooting a gun especially in the American West

Examples of gunslinger in a Sentence

a gunslinger in the Wild West
Recent Examples on the Web The garrison town established in the 1840s was once dominated by outlaws and renegades like gunslinger John King Fisher. Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2024 The hero of the title comes straight out of gunslinger central casting: In 1895, Antonio Sonoro is the patriarch of a dusty stretch of land hugged by the Rio Grande on two sides — a mine collapse has caused the river to split biblically around the property. Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024 The true story of the formerly enslaved man who became the first Black deputy U.S. marshal comes to life on Lawmen: Bass Reeves, an eight-episode series starring David Oyelowo as the storied gunslinger who arrested some 3,000 desperados without ever suffering a single wound. EW.com, 5 Nov. 2023 Six feet tall and 165 pounds in his prime, Gilbert lassoed a whiskey bottle from a gunslinger’s hand from a dozen feet away as a double for Richard Widmark in Edward Dmytryk’s Warlock (1959). Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2024 Towering over the Max Motors car lot is a giant gunslinger in the sky, six-shooters drawn and in a bit of a bad mood, judging by his expression. Edward M. Eveld, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024 Rounding out the trio is the Ghoul, a near-immortal, disfigured gunslinger, played by Walton Goggins. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2024 The story is equal parts drama, murder mystery, and bloody gunslinger action. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Dec. 2023 The musicians dressed like western gunslingers ready to face their end, and to counteract all the mythic imagery, the interviews are full of the kind of artifice other films edit out, including awkward exchanges between the band members and Scorsese, their stumbling inquisitor. Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunslinger was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near gunslinger

Cite this Entry

“Gunslinger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunslinger. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gunslinger

noun
gun·​sling·​er -ˌsliŋ-ər How to pronounce gunslinger (audio)
: a person known for speed and skill in handling and shooting a gun especially in the American West
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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