handgun

noun

hand·​gun ˈhan(d)-ˌgən How to pronounce handgun (audio)
: a firearm (such as a revolver or pistol) designed to be held and fired with one hand

Examples of handgun 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.
During the execution of the warrant, officers reportedly seized two loaded firearms, including a Colt .38 Special revolver and a Glock 19 9mm handgun equipped with an extended magazine, according to Bessette. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2025 Gabriel Torres, 37, 10400 block of Interlochen Drive, Palos Hills, was arrested and accused of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon during a Jan. 3 crash investigation in the 1000 block of Roberts Road after officers recovered a 9 mm handgun and a .380 caliber handgun, police said. Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025 The Supreme Court let Maryland’s handgun licensing regime stand, turning away a long-running Second Amendment challenge. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025 The law, enacted in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012, mandates safety training, fingerprint submission and background checks for prospective handgun owners. John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for handgun 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handgun was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near handgun

Cite this Entry

“Handgun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handgun. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

handgun

noun
hand·​gun ˈhan(d)-ˌgən How to pronounce handgun (audio)
: a firearm designed to be held and fired with one hand
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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