assault weapon

noun

Synonyms of assault weaponnext
: any of various automatic or semiautomatic firearms
especially : assault rifle

Examples of assault weapon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Davis faces state felony charges of possessing an assault weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and having a firearm after a prior juvenile conviction. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026 But a September 2025 statewide poll of 800 Minnesota voters from Everytown Research, a gun violence prevention nonprofit, found that 61% support a state-level ban on assault weapons and 64% support banning high-capacity magazines. Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026 He was convicted of assault weapon possession, a felony, last year in San Joaquin County, court records show. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026 His Second Amendment rulings — such as one that struck down California’s longstanding ban on assault weapons, in which Benitez compared the AR-15 rifle to a Swiss Army knife — drew the ire of those seeking to limit gun violence through legislation. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assault weapon

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of assault weapon was in 1968

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Cite this Entry

“Assault weapon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assault%20weapon. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

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