gunman
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɡənmən// UK //ɡˈʌnmən// gun·man
n. a person who uses a gun to commit a crime or attack people. This word is often used in news reports about shootings.
n. a person who uses a firearm to commit a crime or carry out an attack. Often used in journalistic contexts to describe an unidentified assailant.
The gunman escaped before the police arrived.
Witnesses described the gunman as wearing a dark jacket and a mask during the robbery.
Security footage provided investigators with a clearer timeline of the events, though the gunman's identity remained obscured by the low light and heavy rain.
From gun + -man.
Usage
Typically used in singular or plural form to refer to criminals or attackers rather than soldiers or police officers.