air rifle

noun

: a rifle whose projectile (such as a BB or pellet) is propelled by compressed air or carbon dioxide

Examples of air rifle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Mitchell was holding an air rifle and seated in a car when he was fatally shot by Officers Anthony Chavez and Matthew Concannon, according to a letter reviewed by The Times and a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the case. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2023 Police have identified a man who was shooting birds with a .22 caliber air rifle in an area west of the day care, which is located in Spanish Fork. Paradise Afshar, CNN, 27 May 2023 Per the statement, officers identified a man shooting birds with a .22 caliber air rifle near the daycare. Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 27 May 2023 Armed with an air rifle loaded with pellets, Innes fatally shot Pershal in San Diego's Serra Mesa neighborhood on or about May 8, authorities allege. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 9 Aug. 2023 And once again the show will offer a range of opportunities to participate and compete, including archery tournaments organized by West Town Archery and the air rifle contest run by Daniel Boone Conservation League. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2023 When one deputy asked to see the bird, Unger told the outlet, the men complied and opened the trunk of their car, revealing an air rifle, a BB pistol and a dead North American bald eagle. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2023 Alison Weisz is the woman to beat in air rifle, and Samantha Simonton should make the skeet podium. John Powers, BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2023 Utah police have identified a person of interest after a toddler was wounded in the head with a stray air rifle bullet outside a day care this week, authorities said Wednesday. USA TODAY, 25 May 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of air rifle was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near air rifle

Cite this Entry

“Air rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20rifle. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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