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What is the history of the word gangster?
Gangster came into the English language at the latter portion of the 19th century, as one of what is now a large parcel of words which have been formed by adding the noun combining form –ster to an existing word. The ending -ster has a number of possible meanings (“one that does, handles, or operates,” “one that makes or uses,” “one that is associated with or participates in,” “one that is”), and one of its interesting elements is that it has, in many cases, shifted its gender. This second portion of gangster comes from the Old English -estre, meaning “female agent.” The word tapster ("a bartender"), for instance, was tæppestre in Old English, and designated a barmaid, or female tapster. In modern use the addition of -ster may often be found in a gender-neutral sense, as with hipster, or with implications of masculinity, as with gangster and mobster, through prevalence of usage.
Synonyms
Examples of gangster in a Sentence
Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 18 Jan. 2025
The selection continues its genre focus with the Norwegian body horror The Ugly Stepsister, Turkish political thriller Confidante, and Taiwanese gangster narrative Silent Sparks.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025
At the close of a recent episode, a fire started in Port Charles gangster Sonny Corinthos’ penthouse, trapping his and Carly’s son Michael.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 8 Jan. 2025
Jarvis stars next in the Warner Bros double Robert De Niro gangster movie Alto Knights, due out March 21.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gangster 
Dictionary Entries Near gangster
Cite this Entry
“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangster. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
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