air rifle

noun

: a rifle whose projectile (such as a BB or pellet) is propelled by compressed air or carbon dioxide

Examples of air rifle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
India’s Abhinav Bindra was level with his closest rival going into the final round of the men’s 10-meter air rifle at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Lex Harvey, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024 Gonzalez, 54, was on the picket line in January when several of her co-workers were bruised by small metal balls fired by some sort of air rifle. Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2024 In the shooting, Du Li was unable to defend her title in the women’s 10-meter air rifle competition, tearfully finishing out of the medal positions in fifth. George Ramsay, CNN, 3 Aug. 2024 Shooting — 10-meter air rifle women’s and men’s final — 9:30 a.m. Paris/3:30 a.m. Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for air rifle 

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of air rifle was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near air rifle

Cite this Entry

“Air rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20rifle. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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