gunman

noun

gun·​man ˈgən-mən How to pronounce gunman (audio)
Synonyms of gunmannext
1
: a man armed with a gun
especially : a professional killer
2
: a man noted for speed or skill in handling a gun

Examples of gunman in a Sentence

They were shot by an unknown gunman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The gunman convicted of killing Baltimore teen Deanta Dorsey in a 2023 mass shooting has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Later that month, on July 28, a gunman opened fire inside the Midtown Manhattan office building where Wesley worked. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026 Alleged gunman Gregory Walker, 36, of Mountain House was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department and charged with assault with a firearm. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 In the end, Hector’s father, Ramon, follows Mark to the exchange and shoots the final gunman to save both of them. — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gunman

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunman was in 1590

Browse Nearby Words

gunmaker
gunman
gunmetal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gunman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunman. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gunman

noun
gun·​man -mən How to pronounce gunman (audio)
: a person armed with a gun
especially : an armed criminal

More from Merriam-Webster on gunman

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gunman

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