air gun

noun

1

: a gun from which a projectile is propelled by compressed air

2

: any of various hand tools that work by compressed air

especially : airbrush

Examples of air gun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the website also has messages about residents being startled, as Catanzaro was, by stealthy contractors with air guns. —Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025

One citation was issued related to possession of an air gun. —Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2025

In May, 14-year-old Damian Haglund took a Ruger .177 caliber pellet rifle — an air gun that shoots pellets and is mostly used for target shooting or hunting small animals — to Mount Horeb Middle School. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024

In a search Thursday of the suspect's home, police found several airsoft guns — low-power air guns that fire plastic pellets and are often used recreationally — which resemble real firearms. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for air gun

• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun
• homespun
• outdone
• outrun
• pashtun
• redone
• rerun
• shotgun
• someone

Kids Definition

air gun

noun

1

: a gun that fires with a compressed gas (as air or carbon dioxide)

2

: any of various hand tools that work by compressed air

especially : airbrush

Medical Definition

air gun

noun

: jet injector

The UN [United Nations] would like air guns, delivering vaccine doses without using needles.

—Laurie Garrett, Newsday