semiautomatic

adjective

semi·​au·​to·​mat·​ic ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce semiautomatic (audio)
ˌse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
: not fully automatic: such as
a
: operated partly automatically and partly by hand
b
of a firearm : able to fire repeatedly through an automatic reloading process but requiring release and another pressure of the trigger for each successive shot
a semiautomatic rifle
semiautomatic noun
semiautomatically adverb

Examples of semiautomatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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With his partner Rihanna cheering him on from the crowd, this marked A$AP’s first live performance since being acquitted of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in Los Angeles. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2025 Read more Major gun, labor bills begin journeys through House in the Colorado legislature this week Bills that would limit access to semiautomatic firearms and lower the barrier for establishing new unions are set for their second public hearings this week at the Colorado Capitol. The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2025 As safety concerns over the Sig Sauer P320 handgun continue to mount, a growing number of police departments across the United States are rethinking their use of the popular semiautomatic firearm. Amanda Hernandez, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025 The survivors of the shooting have filed multiple civil suits related to the shooting, including one against the maker of the semiautomatic rifle that Crimo used. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for semiautomatic

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of semiautomatic was in 1853

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Cite this Entry

“Semiautomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiautomatic. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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