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
Amazon Breville’s Barista Express is our favorite all-in-one semiautomatic espresso machine.
—
Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 20 June 2026
Both men have been arraigned in 37th District Court in Warren with nine charges each of weapons – firearms – devices to convert semiautomatic to automatic, along with one charge each of weapons – felony firearm, the sheriff's office said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Kamani Jermaine Taylor, 26, was also charged Tuesday with six counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, shooting at an occupied vehicle, shooting at an unoccupied vehicle and child abuse, according to a news release from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
According to Schubert, during his second arrest, Weathers was in possession of a semiautomatic handgun in the vicinity of Del Paso Heights Elementary School when riding down the wrong side of the street on a bicycle.
—Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for semiautomatic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 20 June 2026
Both men have been arraigned in 37th District Court in Warren with nine charges each of weapons – firearms – devices to convert semiautomatic to automatic, along with one charge each of weapons – felony firearm, the sheriff's office said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Kamani Jermaine Taylor, 26, was also charged Tuesday with six counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, shooting at an occupied vehicle, shooting at an unoccupied vehicle and child abuse, according to a news release from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
According to Schubert, during his second arrest, Weathers was in possession of a semiautomatic handgun in the vicinity of Del Paso Heights Elementary School when riding down the wrong side of the street on a bicycle.
—Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 1 June 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 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
