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
Two of those three American men who stopped a man with an assault rifle on a train had some type of military training; one served in the Air Force, and another served in the National Guard.
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Catherine A. Sanderson, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
The suspect had both a pistol and an assault rifle in his possession at the time of the shooting, a spokesperson for the FBI’s San Antonio office told CNN on Sunday.
—Holmes Lybrand, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
The shooter is believed to have used a pistol and an assault rifle, law enforcement officials said.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
In the aftermath of the gunfight, the ministry said assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms were seized from the speedboat.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for assault rifle
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Catherine A. Sanderson, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
The suspect had both a pistol and an assault rifle in his possession at the time of the shooting, a spokesperson for the FBI’s San Antonio office told CNN on Sunday.
—Holmes Lybrand, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
The shooter is believed to have used a pistol and an assault rifle, law enforcement officials said.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
In the aftermath of the gunfight, the ministry said assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms were seized from the speedboat.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
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 5 Mar. 2026.
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