gonzo
UK /ˈɡɒnzəʊ/ · US /ˈɡɑnzoʊ/ adjective, noun
Forms gonzos
- adjective (journalism) Using an unconventional, exaggerated, and highly subjective style, often when the reporter takes part in the events of the story.
- adjective Unconventional, bizarre, crazy. [from 1974]
- noun Gonzo journalism or a journalist who produces such journalism.
- noun (countable) A wild or crazy person.
Synonyms
bizarre eccentric freakish freaky flaky flakey off-the-wall outlandish outre
Etymology
Coined in 1971 by Boston Globe editor Bill Cardoso. Of uncertain origin; OED proposes Italian gonzo (“dolt”) and / or Spanish ganso (“dolt, goose”). The etymology supplied by Cardoso himself (French gonzeaux) is spurious; French does have a similar word gonze, but this is a loan from Italian.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “gonzo”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details