semiautomatic
adjective
semi·au·to·mat·ic
ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik 
ˌse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
: not fully automatic: such as
a
: operated partly automatically and partly by hand
b
of a firearm
: able to fire repeatedly through an automatic reloading process but requiring release and another pressure of the trigger for each successive shot
a semiautomatic rifle
semiautomatic
noun
Examples of semiautomatic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hughes, who is the boyfriend of Jamonte's mother, was at the home at the time of the shooting, and officers found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun with a laser sight between two layers of clothing on the top shelf of a bedroom closet, according to a police report.
—
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Cole Tomas Allen, who authorities say rushed a banquet room at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday night, had legally bought a 12-gauge shotgun at the Turner’s location in his hometown of Torrance, as well as a semiautomatic pistol at CAP Tactical Firearms in neighboring Lawndale.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Allen was allegedly armed with a pump-action shotgun, a semiautomatic handgun and at least three knives, prosecutors said.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026
In an arrest affidavit, investigators said Victor Lee Hawkins, 20, armed with two semiautomatic handguns, walked into the lobby of the school that afternoon, told everyone to hit the ground and tried to shoot one student but was thwarted by a malfunctioning weapon.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for semiautomatic
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Todd Feurer, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Cole Tomas Allen, who authorities say rushed a banquet room at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday night, had legally bought a 12-gauge shotgun at the Turner’s location in his hometown of Torrance, as well as a semiautomatic pistol at CAP Tactical Firearms in neighboring Lawndale.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Allen was allegedly armed with a pump-action shotgun, a semiautomatic handgun and at least three knives, prosecutors said.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026
In an arrest affidavit, investigators said Victor Lee Hawkins, 20, armed with two semiautomatic handguns, walked into the lobby of the school that afternoon, told everyone to hit the ground and tried to shoot one student but was thwarted by a malfunctioning weapon.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for semiautomatic
Cite this Entry
“Semiautomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiautomatic. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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