Goon

Goon is a slang term for a person who acts as an enforcer or thug on behalf of another individual or organization. In common usage, a goon is someone who uses intimidation, threats, or violence to achieve the interests of a boss, gang, or political group. The term is often associated with “goon squads,” groups assigned to rough up opponents, suppress dissent, or deter competition. Goon is typically pejorative and emphasizes the role as muscle rather than a professional or legitimate operative.

The origin of the word goon is uncertain, but it appears in American slang from the early 20th century and has since come to describe brutish or coercive behavior rather than any formal position.

In popular culture, goon appears both as a common noun and as a proper title. The 2011 film Goon centers on a hockey enforcer named Doug Glatt; a sequel, Goon: Last of the Enforcers, followed in 2017. The Goon is also the title of a long-running comic book series by Eric Powell, featuring a hulking antihero and his zombie sidekick. The term is sometimes used in journalism and discourse to critique violence or intimidation carried out by organized groups or individuals acting as muscle rather than as legitimate actors.