triggerman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowinformal, often used in crime or metaphorical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “triggerman” mean?
A person who fires a gun, especially in a planned shooting or assassination.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who fires a gun, especially in a planned shooting or assassination.
Metaphorically, someone who initiates a critical action or decision.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar in both varieties, but the term is more commonly found in American English due to its prevalence in crime dramas and news.
Connotations
Negative, associated with criminal activities or covert operations.
Frequency
More frequent in American English; in British English, alternative terms like 'gunman' might be slightly more common.
Grammar
How to Use “triggerman” in a Sentence
triggerman for [organization]triggerman in [crime/event]triggerman of [action]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; metaphorically, it might refer to a key person who initiates a major decision or action.
Academic
Used in criminology, sociology, or historical contexts to describe individuals in violent events.
Everyday
Informal usage, typically in news reports or discussions about crime.
Technical
In law enforcement or military jargon, refers to the person directly responsible for firing a weapon.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “triggerman”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “triggerman”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “triggerman”
- Using 'triggerman' to refer to any shooter, rather than one in a planned act.
- Confusing with 'trigger-happy', which means inclined to shoot quickly.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used metaphorically in non-criminal contexts to refer to someone who initiates a key action.
'Hitman' is a synonym but often implies being hired to kill, while 'triggerman' focuses on the act of pulling the trigger, which could be in various contexts.
It is generally informal and best suited for conversational or journalistic contexts; in formal writing, terms like 'perpetrator' or 'shooter' might be preferred.
In American English, it is pronounced as /ˈtrɪɡɚˌmæn/, with stress on the first syllable.
A person who fires a gun, especially in a planned shooting or assassination.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pull the trigger”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember: 'trigger' + 'man' – a man who pulls the trigger, often in a secret or planned way.
Conceptual Metaphor
INITIATOR AS TRIGGER PULLER; someone who starts a chain of events.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'triggerman'?