Standard Lemma guide

press-gang

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A body of men employed to force others (impress them) into military service, especially naval service.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: press

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To force (someone) into military or naval service.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shanghai

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To coerce (somebody) into doing something that they are reluctant to do.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From press + gang.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Welsh: dirdorf — group that forces others into service
  • Welsh: y près — group that forces others into service
  • Bulgarian: мобилизирам принудително (mobiliziram prinuditelno) — to force into military service
  • Chinese Mandarin: 拉丁 (lādīng) — to force into military service
  • Chinese Mandarin: 强征入伍 — to force into military service
  • Chinese Mandarin: 抓壮丁 (zhuāzhuàngdīng) — to force into military service
  • Chinese Mandarin: 抓丁 — to force into military service
  • Chinese Mandarin: 拉夫 (lāfū) — to force into military service
  • Dutch: ronselaarsbende — to force into military service
  • German: zwangsrekrutieren — to force into military service
  • Finnish: pakkovärvätä — to coerce (somebody) into doing something that they are reluctant to do
  • Finnish: shanghaijata — to coerce (somebody) into doing something that they are reluctant to do
  • German: zwingen — to coerce (somebody) into doing something that they are reluctant to do