assault rifle

noun

: any of various intermediate-range, magazine-fed military rifles (such as the AK-47) that can be set for automatic or semiautomatic fire
also : a rifle that resembles a military assault rifle but is designed to allow only semiautomatic fire

Examples of assault rifle 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.
He was arrested after a loaded AK-47 assault rifle was found in his backseat. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025 In 2019, a twenty-one-year-old from a small town outside Dallas had travelled to a Walmart in El Paso and opened fire with a semi-automatic assault rifle, killing twenty-three shoppers. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 The 24-year-old was hanging out with a fellow fighter, Abu Hamza, 25, in the central park of the city of Hama, lending his assault rifle to local youths to pose with it for photographs. Carlotta Gall, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025 The suspect was killed after allegedly opening fire on police officers with an assault rifle. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 1 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for assault rifle

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of assault rifle was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Assault rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assault%20rifle. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

assault rifle

noun
: any of various especially automatic rifles designed for military use

called also assault weapon

More from Merriam-Webster on assault rifle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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