GANGSTA Definition & Meaning

gangsta

[ gang-stuh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a member of an urban street gang:
He was a true gangsta, and he fought like a soldier for his turf.
Synonyms: , , ,
gangsta rap ( def ).

adjective

of or characteristic of urban street gangs, their members, or gangsta rap:
There was no hiding his prison record or his gangsta tattoos from potential employers.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of gangsta¹

First recorded in 1985–90; representing the typically r-less African American Vernacular English pronunciation of gangster ( def )

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Compare Meanings

How does gangsta compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

And we meet Tupac, who was murdered in 1996 at 25, as a bright, sensitive teenager with a gift for words who would go on to become synonymous with West Coast gangsta rap.

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Even as he revives his old gangsta mystique on “Missionary,” talking about family seems to bring something tender out in Snoop.

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They can just keep playing "Call of Duty" or scrolling social media without having to worry that their "gangsta" leader won't win.

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And I realized how political it is, more political than gangsta rap music — like, you can’t have certain people working with each other!

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All his canny media moves of the last 20 years have allowed him to stay in touch with his gangsta roots while broadening his reach to world sport’s biggest stage.

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