English Reference

Word

gunmen

Phoneticsgun·men

US/ˈɡənˌmɛn/

UK/ɡˈʌnmɛn/

Definition

n. men who carry and use guns, especially when they are involved in a crime or a fight.

n. individuals armed with firearms, typically in the context of criminal activity, terrorism, or armed conflict.

Examples

“The gunmen fled the scene before the police arrived.”

“Witnesses reported seeing two masked gunmen entering the bank through the side door during the lunch hour.”

“Security forces were deployed to the border region following reports that unidentified gunmen had established checkpoints along the main supply route.”

Examples

simple

“The gunmen fled the scene before the police arrived.”

contextual

“Witnesses reported seeing two masked gunmen entering the bank through the side door during the lunch hour.”

complex

“Security forces were deployed to the border region following reports that unidentified gunmen had established checkpoints along the main supply route.”

Usage

The plural form of 'gunman'; it takes plural verb agreement.

Real-World Examples

“In a hate crime in May, two gunmen killed three people at a mosque in San Diego.”
Al Jazeera · 17 Aug 2026
“In June, more than 30 people were killed when gunmen attacked the main airport in Niamey.”
The Guardian · 14 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/gunmen

English Reference