assault rifle

noun

Synonyms of assault riflenext
: 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
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Guardsmen opened fire on the cargo ships, then stormed the vessels, carrying assault rifles. Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026 Samuel is too comfortable with his father’s assault rifle, pantomiming intimidation into the mirror like a 13-year-old Travis Bickle. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026 The person in the front appears to be pointing an assault rifle. Joe Brandt, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026 Beyond that, a standard NATO assault rifle has a rate of fire of up to 950 rounds per minute or a burst rate of 90 rounds per minute. David Szondy april 19, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assault rifle

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of assault rifle was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Assault rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assault%20rifle. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

assault rifle

noun
: any of various especially automatic rifles designed for military use

called also assault weapon

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