handgun

noun

hand·​gun ˈhan(d)-ˌgən How to pronounce handgun (audio)
: a firearm (such as a revolver or pistol) designed to be held and fired with one hand

Examples of handgun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That’s when police say a lone man armed with a handgun confronted a security guard outside a Chase Bank in Van Nuys. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Although Seavey dispatched the moose with a handgun and field dressed it, as required per the race rules. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 14 Mar. 2024 Telegram posts recovered by an FBI employee showed Almeida posing with a handgun and more O9A indicia, including a flag, and a book, The Sinister Tradition. Ali Winston, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024 Randy shot her to death with a handgun, and pulled the wedding ring from her finger. Matt Thompson, SPIN, 12 Mar. 2024 Beech Grove police officers were first alerted to the situation on Jan. 14, 2023, by a neighbor who reported the boy had a handgun and was pointing it at people, according to the probable cause affidavit for Osborne’s arrest. Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024 The gun case was the one for the 9mm Sig Sauer handgun that the father had bought just four days before the shooting, the gun his son would use to shoot up the school. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 Seavey told the race’s officials that out of self-defense, he was forced to shoot the moose with a handgun. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 She was charged with having the handgun, as well as the possession of the drugs. The Indianapolis Star, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'handgun.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handgun was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near handgun

Cite this Entry

“Handgun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handgun. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

handgun

noun
hand·​gun ˈhan(d)-ˌgən How to pronounce handgun (audio)
: a firearm designed to be held and fired with one hand
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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