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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
Susan Saulny, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Kevin Hart’s Chicken Man is on the ground, breathing hard in fear, as Samuel L. Jackson’s badass gangster Frank Moten, known as the Black Godfather, holds a gun.
—Ronda Racha Penrice, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Oct. 2024
Many of the profits wound up in the state capital of Culiacán, a city of a million where gangsters have enjoyed a certain respect for their contributions to the economy, public works and charities — and for tamping down on common street crime.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
The hideout of a former gangster with ghosts that have scared off the current owner's family.
—Paul Edward Parker, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gangster 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gangster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near gangster
Cite this Entry
“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangster. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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