bolt-action

adjective

bolt-ac·​tion ˈbōlt-ˈak-shən 

of a firearm

: loaded by means of a manually operated bolt

Examples of bolt-action in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Authorities had said the gun used to assassinate Kirk was a Mauser 98, a common bolt-action rifle typically used for hunting. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026

Sajid Akram legally owned six guns, including the two shotguns and two bolt-action rifles used at Bondi. — CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025

The special agent noted that Jahn obtained a bolt-action rifle in August and pointed to his research on Homeland Security facilities. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025

The gunman used a bolt-action rifle, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. — Jamie Stengle, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bolt-action

• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction
• contraction
• detraction
• diffraction
• distraction
• exaction
• extraction
• impaction
• inaction
• infraction