Kalashnikov

noun

Ka·​lash·​ni·​kov kə-ˈlash-nə-ˌkȯf How to pronounce Kalashnikov (audio)
-ˈläsh-,
-ˈkäf
: a Soviet-designed assault rifle
especially : ak-47

Examples of Kalashnikov 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.
Men often want to appear holding a Kalashnikov in order to resemble members of the Taliban. Carlos Aguilar, IndieWire, 8 Mar. 2025 Competition For The Lancet The Lancet, made by Kalashnikov offshoot ZALA, is Russia’s standard long-range loitering munition. David Hambling, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025 Why the Murdoch family is secretly battling over succession in an obscure Nevada court Two Russian state media employees, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, were charged by the Justice Department with money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Jon Passantino, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024 According to the indictment, two RT employees — Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva — were hired by an unidentified Tennessee media company as editors and successfully published videos promoting Russian interests on TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. Sam Sabin, Axios, 10 Sep. 2024 Court records did not show defense attorneys listed for Afanasyeva or Kalashnikov. Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2024 Now the residents who returned are battered by Russia’s advancing forces Oleh Kalashnikov, the spokesperson for the 26th Artillery Brigade, said that the change in supplies in recent months has been significant. Ivana Kottasova, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024 Special forces have targeted numerous terror targets in the area, seizing combat equipment including explosives, grenades and Kalashnikov AK-47 rifles. Forbes International, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 At the time, the Treasury Department called Kalashnikov the largest firearms producer in Russia. David Ingram, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

after Mixail Timofeevič Kalašnikov †2013 Soviet weapons designer

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Kalashnikov was in 1969

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kalashnikov.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Kalashnikov. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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