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

After six days of marching under the barrel of an assault rifle, Caldwell triggered his group’s escape by pushing one of their captors off a cliff. —Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026

Oakland Police Department The searches also yielded six dirt bikes, one vehicle, two semiautomatic pistols and an assault rifle. —Tim Fang, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026

Robicheaux agreed to plead guilty to possessing an assault rifle and psychedelic mushrooms that were found during a police search of his home and was sentenced to probation. —Sean Emery, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2026

Following Alfonso Morales’ arrest, officers seized an assault rifle, a semiautomatic pistol and a revolver from the apartment, according to Montoya. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for assault rifle

• hyphal
• stifle
• trifle

Kids Definition

assault rifle

noun

: any of various especially automatic rifles designed for military use

called also assault weapon