banger

noun

bang·​er ˈbaŋ-ər 

1

British : sausage

2

British : firecracker

3

British : jalopy

4

informal : a forceful and aggressive athlete

Williamson, the 6- 7, 245-pound forward, is a versatile banger who loves to play inside and has a deft shooting touch.

—William C. Phoden

5

slang : a member of a street gang : gangbanger

He is disciplined, regimented, right down to the humiliating yet soothing ritual of picking up after his dog as he walks through the hood, past scornful young bangers …

—Mike Newirth

6

slang : an energetic song that is very striking or extraordinary

… it's a near-perfect hip-hop album for 2008, loaded with hardcore bangers, pop-friendly hooks, party anthems and confessional lyrics …

—Chuck Arnold

7

informal : an automobile or engine with a specified number of cylinders

—used in combination

When he first started driving Toyotas, they were four-bangers or V-6s …

—Jerry Garrett

Synonyms

• link
• sausage
• wurst

Examples of banger in a Sentence

bangers and mash is classic British pub cuisine

Recent Examples on the Web

None of the over-the-top flourishes would work, though, without confessional bangers that both transport and ring true. —Scottie Andrew, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024

The high-octane musical, which was nominated for nine Tony awards, features a collection of pop bangers from Swedish songwriter Max Martin's catalog, including hits from Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, and more. —EW.com, 9 Dec. 2024

In addition to the Ann and Nancy Wilson banger, Roan also shared her top artists of the year are Ariana Grande at No. 1, followed by Charli xcx, Heart, Justice and Kacey Musgraves. —Stacy Lambe, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024

As a small act of protest, watch box-office bangers only on long-haul flights, or support that guy on the subway selling pirated DVDs. —Meghana Indurti, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1