assault weapon

noun

: any of various automatic or semiautomatic firearms

especially : assault rifle

Examples of assault weapon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

New Jersey enacted its assault weapons law in 1990 following a mass shooting at a California elementary school. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2026

Eldridge noted Thursday’s opinion relied on much the same reasoning the appeals court had used in previous cases involving assault weapons bans. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

In addition to the lawsuit filed against California, the Second Amendment Section also filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Virginia, challenging a new law limiting the sale of firearms the state defines as assault weapons. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Days before it was set to take effect, a judge in rural Virginia has temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a new assault weapons ban, ruling that the law is probably unconstitutional. — Liam Bowman, Washington Post, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above