semiautomatic

adjective

semi·​au·​to·​mat·​ic ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik 

ˌse-ˌmī-,

-mi-

: not fully automatic: such as

a

: operated partly automatically and partly by hand

b

of a firearm : able to fire repeatedly through an automatic reloading process but requiring release and another pressure of the trigger for each successive shot

a semiautomatic rifle

semiautomatic noun

semiautomatically

ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌse-ˌmī-

-mi-

adverb

Examples of semiautomatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The safe containing both a 38 revolver and a 45 semiautomatic handgun was removed from the residence and placed into the evidence department for safekeeping. —Silas Morgan, Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2025

On Saturday, Archangel-Ortiz returned with a bag full of zip ties and a semiautomatic handgun, police said. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025

The gunman was identified as Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, 49, who allegedly entered the hospital's intensive care unit with a semiautomatic weapon and zip ties. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025

The shooter, Nikolas Cruz, was 19 at the time and used a semiautomatic rifle. —News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for semiautomatic

• antidemocratic
• bacteriostatic
• heterochromatic
• idiosyncratic
• nonadiabatic
• paleoclimatic
• achromatic
• acrobatic
• adriatic
• aliphatic
• antistatic
• aromatic