semiautomatic

adjective

semi·​au·​to·​mat·​ic ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik 

ˌse-ˌmī-,

-mi-

: not fully automatic: such as

a

: operated partly automatically and partly by hand

b

of a firearm : able to fire repeatedly through an automatic reloading process but requiring release and another pressure of the trigger for each successive shot

a semiautomatic rifle

semiautomatic noun

semiautomatically

ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌse-ˌmī-

-mi-

adverb

Examples of semiautomatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chapple also faces charges in connection to the incident: assault on a peace officer with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded firearm, according to the Sacramento Observer. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 8 June 2024

The court will also decide the fate of a federal prohibition on bump stocks, attachments that let a semiautomatic rifle fire at speeds rivaling a machine gun. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 6 June 2024

Following the shooting, a bill to raise the the minimum age for buying some semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21 failed. —Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2024

Since February, some gangs have acquired automatic weapons — possibly a mix of arms stolen from regional militaries and others converted from semiautomatic rifles, the officials said. —Maria Abi-Habib, New York Times, 21 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above