assault rifle
noun
: any of various intermediate-range, magazine-fed military rifles (such as the AK-47) that can be set for automatic or semiautomatic fire
also
: a rifle that resembles a military assault rifle but is designed to allow only semiautomatic fire
Examples of assault rifle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The 24-year-old, who fired an AR-15-style assault rifle from a rooftop into the parade’s crowd, is expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
—
Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
The assault rifle that was allegedly going to be used to carry out the murder.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 22 Mar. 2025
The warrants allegedly led to the discovery and seizure of 10 firearms, including assault rifles, 220 grams of cocaine, $116,000 in U.S currency and a 2018 Dodge Ram.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2025
The independent dealer Catalina Pawn in Tucson, Arizona, sold 132 pistols, assault rifles and rifle receivers to three people between Oct. 29, 2021, and Feb. 7, 2022.
—Sean Campbell, The Conversation, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assault rifle
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.
Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
The assault rifle that was allegedly going to be used to carry out the murder.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 22 Mar. 2025
The warrants allegedly led to the discovery and seizure of 10 firearms, including assault rifles, 220 grams of cocaine, $116,000 in U.S currency and a 2018 Dodge Ram.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2025
The independent dealer Catalina Pawn in Tucson, Arizona, sold 132 pistols, assault rifles and rifle receivers to three people between Oct. 29, 2021, and Feb. 7, 2022.
—Sean Campbell, The Conversation, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assault rifle
Cite this Entry
“Assault rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assault%20rifle. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share