'badman' originates from English, specifically the compound of the words 'bad' and 'man', where 'bad' originally meant 'evil/poor' and 'man' meant 'adult male' or 'person'.

'badman' developed as a compound in English and later gained distinct slang senses in Caribbean English (notably Jamaican English) and in British urban varieties; the slang use—referring to a criminal or a formidable/respected person—became prominent in the 20th century through local speech and musical cultures (reggae, dancehall, grime).

Initially, the elements simply conveyed 'a bad (evil) man'; over time it evolved into slang meanings including 'criminal/gangster' and, in Caribbean usage, also 'tough/respected person' (which can be either pejorative or admiring).