submachine gun

noun

sub·​ma·​chine gun ˌsəb-mə-ˈshēn-ˌgən How to pronounce submachine gun (audio)
: a portable automatic firearm that uses pistol-type ammunition and is fired from the shoulder or hip

Examples of submachine gun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Police also found 89 firearms, including handguns, submachine guns and AR-15-style rifles, as well as small explosive devices, large quantities of ammunition, silencers, high-capacity magazines, body armor and $500,000 in Canadian, equivalent to roughly $360,000 in US dollars. Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 Hernandez said detectives seized a fully automatic submachine gun, ammunition and evidence related to the crimes. Jason Green, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024 The manufacturer, First Line Furniture, said they were tested against high-caliber handguns, AR-15s, submachine guns, hand grenades and .308 sniper rifles. Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2024 One casing is a 9mm caliber, likely a pistol, or a machine pistol or a submachine gun, Weir said. Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 26 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for submachine gun 

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of submachine gun was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near submachine gun

Cite this Entry

“Submachine gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/submachine%20gun. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

submachine gun

noun
sub·​ma·​chine gun ˌsəb-mə-ˈshēn-ˌgən How to pronounce submachine gun (audio)
: a lightweight automatic portable firearm

More from Merriam-Webster on submachine gun

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