gunman

Gunman is a term used in English to describe an individual who uses a firearm to threaten or commit violence. It is most often applied to male perpetrators and is commonly found in news reporting about robberies, assassinations, mass shootings, or other armed attacks. The designation emphasizes both the weapon and the aggressor.

Etymology and nuance: The word is a compound of gun and man, making it gendered. While widely used, the term can obscure female offenders who use firearms and may contribute to bias. Alternatives such as shooter, attacker, or offender are frequently preferred in neutral or contemporary reporting; "gunwoman" is rare and anomalies exist.

Contexts of use: In criminal acts, a gunman may be described at the time of the event as the suspect or perpetrator; following investigation, details about motive and victims are added. Journalistic practice increasingly favors neutral descriptors that do not presume intent or gender; some outlets avoid the term altogether for sensitive or violent incidents.

Legal and social considerations: Discussions of gun violence and policy analyze incidents involving gunmen for patterns in access to firearms, security failures, and emergency response. In research and law enforcement, terms such as offender, suspect, or assailant are used based on context and stage of investigation. The term "gunman" remains common in older reporting but is viewed as gendered and potentially stigmatizing.