: a Soviet-designed 7.62 mm (.30 cal.) gas-operated magazine-fed rifle for automatic or semiautomatic fire

Examples of AK-47 in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Special forces have targeted numerous terror targets in the area, seizing combat equipment including explosives, grenades and Kalashnikov AK-47 rifles. Forbes International, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 The Kalashnikov assault rifle, also known as the AK-47, was the next major technological boon to terrorists. Audrey Kurth Cronin, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2023 Videos and images released between then and Monday have shown AK-47s, ammunition, grenades, uniforms and computer equipment, which the IDF claims belong to Hamas, inside the hospital. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2023 Inside the basement of the hospital, which officials said has been evacuated, were abandoned AK-47s, grenades and what Hagari said were suicide vests. ABC News, 14 Nov. 2023 Kibbutz security fought off a group of around 30 militants armed with grenades and AK-47s at the front gate. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2023 Agonizing? When was the last time someone chased you around with an AK-47? THAT'S agonizing! Joe Snell, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023 Some may have come from Iraq, where Saddam Hussein bought AK-47s by the thousands. Isabelle Chapman, CNN, 13 Oct. 2023 Beyond giving each man an AK-47 and some spare magazines, the army had run out of gear. Samanth Subramanian, WIRED, 5 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'AK-47.' 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

Russian avtomat Kalashnikova 1947 Kalashnikov automatic rifle of 1947

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of AK-47 was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near AK-47

Cite this Entry

“AK-47.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/AK-47. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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