# hangman

/ˈhæŋmən/ (US) · /hˈæŋmən/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hangman
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- When referring to the game, it is often used without an article ('Let's play hangman').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.