Word
hangman
Phoneticshang·man, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhæŋmən/
UK/hˈæŋmən/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person whose job is to kill criminals by hanging them. It is also the name of a popular word game where you try to guess letters before a drawing of a person is finished.
n. an official executioner who carries out a death sentence by hanging. Also refers to a traditional word-guessing game for two or more players, typically involving a stick-figure drawing.
Examples
“We played hangman on the whiteboard during the break.”
“The children spent the rainy afternoon playing hangman and other simple paper-and-pencil games.”
“Historically, the identity of the hangman was often kept secret to protect the individual from public retribution or social stigma associated with the grim nature of the profession.”
Examples
simple
“We played hangman on the whiteboard during the break.”
contextual
“The children spent the rainy afternoon playing hangman and other simple paper-and-pencil games.”
complex
“Historically, the identity of the hangman was often kept secret to protect the individual from public retribution or social stigma associated with the grim nature of the profession.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hangman” in context.
Verb
01. appoint hangman
“The local council had to appoint a hangman to oversee the executions.”
verb + noun
02. cheat hangman
“The prisoner managed to escape the night before his execution, effectively cheating the hangman.”
verb + noun
03. hangman waits
“A tense silence filled the courtyard while the hangman waited for the signal.”
noun + verb
04. play hangman
“The children decided to play hangman on the chalkboard while waiting for the teacher.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. professional hangman
“In the 18th century, the professional hangman was a feared figure in the community.”
adj + noun
06. royal hangman
“The royal hangman was summoned to carry out the king's final judgment.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. game of hangman
“We passed the time during the long flight with a quick game of hangman.”
noun + prep + noun
08. hangman's noose
“The outlaw stared at the hangman's noose with a look of pure defiance.”
noun + noun
09. face the hangman
“The convicted man walked bravely toward the platform to face the hangman.”
10. win a game of hangman
“She managed to win a game of hangman by guessing the letter 'Z' at the last second.”
Usage
When referring to the game, it is often used without an article ('Let's play hangman').
Real-World Examples
“Or so "Monty" says in "Pierrepoint," a film released in England last year about the career of Albert Pierrepoint, the most famous hangman in 20th-century England, though he preferred the more decorous term "executioner.” “Britain's last official chief hangman, Albert Pierrepoint, became a household name when he was sent to Germany to execute war criminals after the Nuremburg Trials.” “The only experienced hangman known, said Mr. Silverman, is a backwoodsman in Canada who has not responded to notes left on a tree stump for him by the local authorities.” “A retired Topeka, Kan., hangman who sprang the trap on 64 men claims his job never caused him to lose even one night’s sleep.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English hangman, hongman, hangeman, equivalent to hang + -man.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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