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
Marcel Ware, 20, faces felony charges of possessing an assault rifle, gun and ammunition possession by a felon, and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest.
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Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
Councilman Patrick Kelly expressed a similar sentiment, emphasizing that in the case of the assault rifles ban, the city knew there would be a tangible impact with the immediate ban and the city was ready to take on any litigation thanks to pro bono support from a major international law firm.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Video from the attack showed one assailant carrying what appeared to be an assault rifle, wearing a brown backpack and hiding behind a bus when exchanging fire with police.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Hours later, Thomas reportedly returned with an AK-47 assault rifle and fired 31 rounds into the man’s home.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2026
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Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
Councilman Patrick Kelly expressed a similar sentiment, emphasizing that in the case of the assault rifles ban, the city knew there would be a tangible impact with the immediate ban and the city was ready to take on any litigation thanks to pro bono support from a major international law firm.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Video from the attack showed one assailant carrying what appeared to be an assault rifle, wearing a brown backpack and hiding behind a bus when exchanging fire with police.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Hours later, Thomas reportedly returned with an AK-47 assault rifle and fired 31 rounds into the man’s home.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for assault rifle
Cite this Entry
“Assault rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assault%20rifle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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