assault weapon

noun

: any of various automatic or semiautomatic firearms
especially : assault rifle

Examples of assault weapon 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.
Zoom in: Serrano's clients include Guardian Arms, a Moses Lake gun shop seeking to overturn Washington's ban on selling dozens of firearms that the state now defines as assault weapons. Melissa Santos, Axios, 9 Sep. 2024 Vance and Trump oppose most gun-control laws, including an assault weapons ban and national red-flag laws proposed by Harris. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 26 Oct. 2024 Emboldened by legal immunity, some manufacturers aggressively marketed assault weapons like the AR-15. Corey G. Johnson, ProPublica, 24 Oct. 2024 If Republicans control the House or the Senate — or both — after the election, Congress probably would not pass an assault weapons ban. Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for assault weapon 

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of assault weapon was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near assault weapon

Cite this Entry

“Assault weapon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assault%20weapon. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on assault weapon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!