# gangster

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡæ̞ŋ.stə/ · frequency rank #13,921

## Definitions
1. A member of a criminal or street gang.
2. A member of a professional criminal organization (in organized crime): a racketeer.

## Etymology
From gang + -ster. First attested in 1884.

## Easily confused with
- **gangsta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gangsta-vs-gangster)

## Common misspellings (13)
`agngster`, `gagnster`, `ganggster`, `gangsetr`, `gangsster`, `gangsterr`, `gangstre`, `gangstter`, `gangtser`, `ganngster`, `gansgter`, `ggangster`, `gnagster`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/gangster