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Definition of hangman

hangman

/ˈhæŋ.mən/
hang · man
Plural:hangmen
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hangman Lexical Profile

hangman Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A paper-and-pencil guessing game in which one player thinks of a word and the other tries to guess it by suggesting letters, with each incorrect guess adding a line to a stick-figure drawing on a gallows.

Example

"The teacher played a quick round of hangman on the whiteboard to help the students review their spelling vocabulary."

2

An executioner who puts condemned prisoners to death by hanging.

Example

"The historical novel vividly depicted the grim duties of the royal hangman in sixteenth-century London."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hangman

• Nearby Words

hangdog
hanger
hanging
hangman
hangnail
hangout
hangover

Word Origin & Etymology

Attested from the late 14th century in Middle English, formed as a compound of the verb 'hang' (from Old English 'hon') and 'man'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hangman. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hangman
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