weapon

1 of 2

noun

weap·​on ˈwe-pən How to pronounce weapon (audio)
Synonyms of weaponnext
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

transitive verb

: arm

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Saudi Arabia cannot reprocess American nuclear material for weapons per the agreement. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 July 2026 According to her profile in the Stunts Unlimited Directory, Dalton is a stuntwoman with a background in dance, specializing in boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, sword fighting, and the use of weapons on set. — Anna Zucca, Vanity Fair, 23 July 2026
Verb
Disneyland visitors who have always wanted to try the $250 lightsaber building experience in Savi’s Workshop without footing the bill or having to lug the Jedi Knight weapon all over the Anaheim theme park will now get their chance. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 22 May 2026 Potentially, starting as a kickoff/coverage teams weapon — 15 career tackles covering punts. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weapon

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

Phrases Containing weapon

Browse Nearby Words

weanyer
weapon
weaponeer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Weapon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weapon. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on weapon

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for weapon

Nglish: Translation of weapon for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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