weapon

1 of 2

noun

weap·​on ˈwe-pən How to pronounce weapon (audio)
1
: something (such as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy
2
: a means of contending against another

weapon

2 of 2

verb

weaponed; weaponing; weapons

Examples of weapon in a Sentence

Noun assault with a deadly weapon The pitcher's slider is his most effective weapon. a new weapon in the fight against cancer The mayor's campaign unleashed its secret weapon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The ape kingdom is built around a silo, with a closed vault of a door, that contains many wonders within (like weapons). Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 May 2024 Israeli's military subsequently launched an operation into Rafah that the U.S. says was limited and designed to cut off Hamas' ability to smuggle weapons into Gaza. USA TODAY, 8 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for weapon 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'weapon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wepen, from Old English wǣpen; akin to Old High German wāffan weapon, Old Norse vāpn

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of weapon was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near weapon

Cite this Entry

“Weapon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weapon. Accessed 10 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

weapon

noun
weap·​on
ˈwep-ən
1
: something (as a gun, knife, or club) used to injure, defeat, or destroy
2
: something with which one fights or struggles against another
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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