gang

SayGANG/ɡæŋ/

11 meanings of gang

1
criminal groupnouncountable
A group of people who commit crimes together, often controlling an area of a city.
Like a team that works together, but for crime instead of sport.
The gang robbed three banks before the police caught them.
A small gang of thieves shared whatever they stole.
Similarring, mob, syndicate, band
2
group of friendsnouncountable
A group of friends or other people who spend time or work together.
The whole gang met up at the park on Saturday.
She invited the gang over for pizza and games.
UsageFriends can be the gang. Use group if readers might think you mean criminals.
Similargroup, crowd, bunch, crew, band
Note
3
work crewnouncountable
A group of workers who do a job together under one boss.
A gang of workers cleared the road after the storm.
The boss sent his gang to dig the trench.
Similarcrew, squad, team, detail
4
prison labornounUScountable
A group of prisoners chained together and made to work outside.
Men on the chain gang cleared brush along the county road.
Each morning the gang was led out in irons to repair the county roads.
UsageUse chain gang to make this meaning clear.
Note
5
group sexverbslangvulgartransitive
To take part in group sex in which several people have sex with one person.
Similargangbang
Note

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Meaning 9

From Old English gangan, meaning "to go" or "walk." It goes back to older Germanic and Indo-European roots meaning "to step or walk."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

The verb gang descends from Old English gangan. en.wiktionary.org
Old English gangan meant go or walk. en.wiktionary.org
The verb has Germanic ancestry meaning go, walk, or step. en.wiktionary.org
Its Germanic ancestor derives from an Indo-European root meaning walk or step. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1–4, 6–8, 10–11

From Old English gang, meaning "a journey, way, or passage." It comes from older Germanic and Indo-European roots meaning "to step or stride."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

English gang descends from Old English gang, meaning a journey, way, or passage. en.wiktionary.org
The word has older Germanic ancestry associated with stepping or walking. en.wiktionary.org
Its Indo-European root means to step or stride. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 5

A shortened form of the word gangbang.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact