Definition

A person who is part of a group involved in illegal activities, often associated with organized crime.

Example

The police arrested several gangsters during the raid.

Conversation

Did you see that movie about the gangster last night?

Yeah, it was pretty intense, right?

I didn't expect the gangster to turn out to be the hero.

Same here! It really flipped the whole story on its head.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Gangster → The word originates from the American English term 'gang' (meaning a group of people) combined with the suffix '-ster' (meaning a person associated with). A gangster is thus a person who is part of a group, often involved in criminal activities.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'group' ('gang') of people and remember that a 'gangster' is someone who is part of that group, often involved in illicit activities.

Visually Confused Words