gangplank

noun

gang·​plank ˈgaŋ-ˌplaŋk How to pronounce gangplank (audio)
: a movable bridge used in boarding or leaving a ship at a pier

Examples of gangplank in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nearby, Sayed Hassan waits for us at the bottom of the gangplank, smiling broadly in his long green robe – a galabia. — Francine Kiefer, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025 One day while rollerblading through the city, VIctoria saw Yankee, and skated up the gangplank. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025 Because there is no escalator to the top of the dome, Chalamet would have to summit a maze of catwalks and gangplanks in full protective gear. — Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2025 Additionally, passengers board and disembark by way of a narrow gangplank. — Matt Dutile, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gangplank

Word History

Etymology

gang- (as in gangway) + plank entry 1

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gangplank was in 1785

Rhymes for gangplank

See All Rhymes for gangplank

Browse Nearby Words

Gangneung
gangplank
gangplow
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gangplank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangplank. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gangplank

noun
gang·​plank ˈgaŋ-ˌplaŋk How to pronounce gangplank (audio)
: a movable bridge from a ship to the shore

More from Merriam-Webster on gangplank

Nglish: Translation of gangplank for Spanish Speakers

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