skɑːrfeɪs

Definitions

1. noun

A person, typically a gangster or a criminal, who has a prominent facial scar, often as a result of violence or a violent past.

“He was known as the city’s most notorious scarface, feared by all who crossed his path.”

2. noun

A person with a reputation for ruthlessness or violence, often with a scarred or disfigured face.

“The police were looking for a suspect known as the scarface, who was believed to be responsible for several violent crimes.”

3. proper noun

The title of a 1983 film directed by Brian De Palma, starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who becomes a powerful cocaine dealer in Miami.

“The movie Scarface is a classic of gangster cinema, but its violent and gratuitous content has been widely criticized.”