gangbanger

[ gang-bang-er ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a member of a violent street gang.
2. a person who participates in a sexual gangbang ( ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of gangbanger¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35 gangbanger ( fordef 1 ), and to 1965–70 gangbanger ( fordef 2 ); gang ¹( ) + bang ¹( def ) + -er ¹( def )

Example Sentences

You didn’t have to be a gangbanger to get that kind of treatment.

From Los Angeles Times

“On the gangbanger side, you wanna be the man. You wanna be known. You want people to fear you,” Philpott said.

From Los Angeles Times

Johnson was never a gangbanger; he was one of those unsupervised boys who was “just around,” spending his time on the corner of Bassett and Dixwell, the center of his world.

From Washington Post

Luis J. Rodriguez, literary lodestar The trajectory from gangbanger in South San Gabriel to city poet laureate and bestselling author would have been dramatic enough.

From Los Angeles Times

“He was no longer a gangbanger. He was a world-known recording artist and so much more,” the prosecutor said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• delinquent
• gangster
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• troublemaker