revolver

noun

re·​volv·​er ri-ˈväl-vər 

-ˈvȯl-

also -ˈvä-vər

or -ˈvȯ-vər

1

: one that revolves

2

: a handgun with a cylinder of several chambers brought successively into line with the barrel and discharged with the same hammer

Examples of revolver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The revolvers gifted to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten were left at their countries’ embassies in Ankara and would also be taken out of service, officials said. — ABC News, 10 July 2026

The offices of the Dutch and Swedish ⁠prime ministers said their revolvers had been taken to their respective embassies in Ankara. — Reuters, NBC news, 9 July 2026

My dad, a police detective, made sure the Klansman saw his service revolver on his waist. — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

At the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, American revolvers and reapers with swappable parts stunned international observers. — Guru Madhavan, IEEE Spectrum, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

revolve + -er entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for revolver

• resolver
• solver

Kids Definition

revolver

noun

re·​volv·​er ri-ˈväl-vər 

-ˈvȯl-

: a handgun having a revolving cylinder holding several bullets all of which may be shot without loading again