English Meaning & Definitions
A young man who engages in petty crime or acts as part of a violent gang; a rowdy hooligan.
- “The neighborhood watch was formed to protect local shops from roaming hoodlums.”
- “Police arrested a group of hoodlums for vandalizing the public park with graffiti.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “hoodlum”.
Originating in the late 19th century in San Francisco, American English. One popular folk etymology suggests it arose from a reverse spelling of 'muldoon' (the surname of a local gang leader), while another theory connects it to the German dialect word 'Hudelum' meaning a ragamuffin or good-for-nothing. It quickly spread across the United States to describe young street thugs and violent troublemakers.
Picture a young man wearing a *hood* causing trouble with *lum*ps on people's heads.
Frequently Asked Questions About “hoodlum”
1. What is the meaning of “hoodlum” in English?
In English, hoodlum (noun) is defined as: “A young man who engages in petty crime or acts as part of a violent gang; a rowdy hooligan.”.
2. How do you use “hoodlum” in a sentence?
“The neighborhood watch was formed to protect local shops from roaming hoodlums.”
3. What are English synonyms of “hoodlum”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “hoodlum”?
Originating in the late 19th century in San Francisco, American English. One popular folk etymology suggests it arose from a reverse spelling of 'muldoon' (the surname of a local gang leader), while another theory connects it to the German dialect word 'Hudelum' meaning a ragamuffin or good-for-nothing. It quickly spread across the United States to describe young street thugs and violent troublemakers.
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