noun Uncommon

goon

GOON

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Goon (noun) means a thug or hired muscle, especially one who intimidates or fights on someone else's orders. Example: “Two goons stood by the door, arms crossed, daring anyone to step forward.”

noun

A thug or hired muscle, especially one who intimidates or fights on someone else's orders.

"Two goons stood by the door, arms crossed, daring anyone to step forward."

"The debt collector sent his goons to "remind" the shopkeeper."

A foolish, clumsy, or silly person.

"Stop acting like such a goon in front of the cameras."

"He tripped over his own feet like a total goon."

verb

To behave in an aggressive, thuggish, or intimidating way, especially in a group.

"The rival gang goons around outside the club most weekends."

How to use goon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a tough hired enforcer, or just a clumsy/foolish person — context tells you which.

Common pairings

hired goon a bunch of goons act like a goon

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: goons
Third person singular: goons
Past tense: gooned

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Two _____ stood by the door, arms crossed, daring anyone to step forward.

Etymology

Shortened from "gooney," originally a sailor's word for the albatross and other big, clumsy seabirds. By the early 1900s it had shifted to mean "stupid person," and the "hired thug" sense took off in the late 1930s, partly thanks to the brutish comic-strip character Alice the Goon in Popeye.

· First attested 1900

Class of 1900 goon joined the language around 1900.

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Synonyms

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tough punk hood lump thug oaf lout clod gawk hoodlum lubber lummox

Related words

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Rhymes for goon

noon moon soon hoon toon poon foon loon boon woon doon Yoon

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Frequently asked questions

What does “goon” mean?

The word “goon” means a thug or hired muscle, especially one who intimidates or fights on someone else's orders. In plain terms, either a tough hired enforcer, or just a clumsy/foolish person — context tells you which.

How do you pronounce “goon”?

“Goon” is pronounced GOON (/ˈɡuːn/ in IPA).

How do you use “goon” in a sentence?

Here is “goon” used in a sentence: “Two goons stood by the door, arms crossed, daring anyone to step forward.”

What part of speech is “goon”?

Depending on how it is used, “goon” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “goon” come from?

The word “goon” dates back to around 1900.

Is “goon” a common word?

“Goon” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “goon” have?

“Goon” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thug or hired muscle, especially one who intimidates or fights on someone else's orders.

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