gang
UK: ɡæŋ | US: ɡæŋ
n. 1. A group of people, especially young people, who associate closely for social reasons or criminal activity.
n. 2. An organized group of workers or prisoners.
v. 3. (intransitive) To form or act as a gang.
The word "gang" originates from Old English gang, meaning "a going, journey, or way." Over time, it evolved to denote a group of people traveling or working together, eventually narrowing to its modern sense of a close-knit (often antisocial) group. The term retains its core idea of collective movement or association, reflecting its Germanic roots (related to German Gang, "a walk or passage").
The police arrested members of a local gang involved in theft.
A gang of volunteers cleaned up the park.
Prisoners were forced to work in gangs during the day.
Teenagers often gang together after school.
The construction crew ganged up to finish the project faster.