gang
Word family
- gangsternounB2
- gang-relatedadjectiveB2
- ganglandnounC1
- gangbangernounC1
- ganglyadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All five words describe groups of people, but they differ in organization and purpose. A 'gang' (noun/2) is an organized group of criminals working together for profit — it suggests a structured hierarchy and ongoing illegal activity. A 'mob' is a larger, less organized group that acts violently in the moment, often spontaneously — it suggests chaos rather than planning. 'Crew' is more neutral and can be either positive or negative; in crime contexts, it implies a smaller, tight-knit group (e.g., 'a crew of bank robbers'). A 'ring' is a secretive group of people engaged in a specific illegal trade, with a focus on the operation rather than personal loyalty (e.g., 'a drug ring', 'a smuggling ring'). 'Cartel' is the most formal and specific — it refers to a large international organization that controls a market, typically in drugs or weapons. Example: 'The Sinaloa cartel controls much of the drug trade, but local street gangs distribute the product in individual neighbourhoods.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'gang' comes from Old English 'gang', meaning a journey, a going, or a path. It is related to the verb 'gang' (to go), which survives in some English dialects. In Middle English, 'gang' came to mean a group of people travelling together. By the 1600s, it had developed the meaning of a group of workers, and by the 1800s it was used for criminal groups. The modern sense of a youth group emerged in the 1900s, particularly in the context of urban street culture.